Five hospitalised as transport unions’ members clash in Kwara

At least five people have been hospitalized following a violent clash between rival transport unions in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Monday, August 24, 2026.

Available information indicated that the violence primarily erupted around the Idi-Araba and Itakudimo areas of the Ilorin metropolis.

Tensions escalated following an alleged attack on the office of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).

Eyewitnesses reported seeing youths alighting from tricycles armed with cutlasses, stones, and other dangerous weapons.

According to the eyewitnesses, the youths moved towards the NARTO office, with some allegedly throwing stones at the building.

A NARTO representative, Abubakar Olatunbosun, claimed that their members were ambushed by rival factions.

These factions reportedly include members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and the Tricycle Owners’ Association of Nigeria (TOAN).

Olatunbosun appealed to the Kwara State government to intervene in the matter, saying NARTO members respect the law and would not take the law into their own hands because Kwara is known for peace.

He also alleged that over 100 tricycles belonging to their members had been seized by the other unions.

A victim, Abdulwasiu Jamiu, alleged that members of the unions attacked them, forcefully took away their tricycles and inflicted injuries on some of them.

Another victim, Lukman Iyanda, who reportedly sustained a broken hand, said he was attacked at Itakudimo while operating his tricycle.

“I was working with my tricycle at Itakudimo when I was attacked. My hand was injured during the incident,” he said.

The clash came amid growing tension over the operation of tricycles and the activities of transport unions in parts of the state.

The Financial Secretary of the Kwara State Tricycle Riders, Abdullahi Abdulraheem, alleged that tricycles operating on major roads in the state were being seized following a directive allegedly issued by the Commissioner for Transportation, Aliyu Korasabi.

Abdulraheem said the alleged development had prevented many riders from carrying out their daily business and earning a living.

“We have chosen to work for our daily bread. We do not want to engage in theft, banditry or any other illegal activity, but we are being deprived of the opportunity to work.

“The seizure of our tricycles has become a serious problem for our members, whose livelihoods depend on this business,” Abdulraheem said.

He further claimed that a court had previously ruled that tricycle operators should be allowed to operate without harassment or interference.

“We have a court order that allows us to operate without disturbance from any agency or authority, and we are calling on the Kwara State Government to intervene before this matter escalates,” he said.

Another tricycle operator, Mustapha Abdulateef, alleged that the rising cost of union tickets, police harassment and other challenges faced by riders had contributed to the decision of some operators to join NARTO.

“The cost of tickets we pay, coupled with police harassment and other challenges on the road, made some of us decide to join a union that we believe can better protect our interests.

“The government should allow tricycle operators to belong to any union of their choice,” Abdulateef said.

He also alleged that officials of the state Ministry of Transportation disrupted a meeting of riders and damaged office equipment, parked tricycles, mobile phones and other valuables.

Abdulateef said NARTO had also been assisting unemployed youths to acquire tricycles through installment payments, describing the arrangement as a means of creating jobs and supporting livelihoods.

“We are only trying to create opportunities for unemployed youths through the tricycle business.