Lagos Island was thrown into panic on Wednesday after a deadly street altercation ended the life of a dispatch rider and triggered the arrest of a powerful transport union figure. The suspect, identified as Shamsideen Adio, known in the area as “Shamelon”, is a top official of the Lagos Island chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
According to several eyewitnesses and confirmed by Lagos State Police Command, the tragedy began when Adio confronted the dispatch rider, accusing him of scratching his vehicle along busy Tapa Street. What should have been a minor quarrel quickly exploded into full-blown violence, as Adio and others allegedly attacked the rider with their fists and kicks.
Lens News gathered that stunned residents watched in disbelief as blows rained down on the helpless man, who eventually collapsed on the spot. Police were alerted immediately, but by the time help arrived, the dispatch rider had already lost his life, a shocking twist that left the entire community shaken.
The Lagos State Police spokesperson confirmed the arrest, stating that Shamsideen Adio is now in police custody and that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for deeper investigation. “Justice will be served,” a police officer assured, calling for calm as the investigation continues.
So far, the leadership of NURTW in Lagos has distanced itself from the incident, insisting that violence has no place in their operations. However, many Lagosians are still demanding answers about the unchecked power and street influence of union officials, especially as this latest tragedy follows a worrying trend of violent confrontations involving road transport workers.
With the suspect now behind bars and an entire street mourning a life cut short, Lagosians are left asking: how many more times will petty disputes end in bloodshed before something finally changes on our roads?
