No fewer than 11 people received machete cuts when members of the Road Transport Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ekiti State clashed in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on Sunday.
The injured people were said to be loyalists of the South West zonal Chairman of RTEAN, Mr Isaac Fatimehin and an intending state chairman, Mr Adebayo Aderiye popularly known as Ojuigo.
The injured received machete cuts in their heads and around their bodies, and are receiving treatment in undisclosed hospitals.
The feuding RTEAN members also vandalised a shopping plaza known as Ayinyin Shopping Complex in Ado Ekiti, where the injured were attacked. Doors and windows were smashed while chairs, tables and sundry property were destroyed in the melee, which lasted for several minutes.
Reacting to the development, Isaac Fatimehin alleged that the attacks were orchestrated by another state chairmanship hopeful, Rotimi Joseph Olanbiwonninu, popularly known as Mentilo.
Fatimehin alleged that Mentilo was “responsible for the attack and vandalism of the shopping complex and his own house behind it,” saying “I am the South West zonal chairman and a member of the National Executive Council of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RETAN).”
He alleged that they had been under attack for nearly one day, claiming “we have been under violent attacks since Friday. These attacks are led by a former state chairman of RETAN in Ekiti, Rotimi Joseph Olanbiwonninu, popularly known as Mentilo.
“He has been bringing thugs armed with guns and cutlasses and other dangerous weapons to attack our people. As I speak with you, 11 of our people are in the hospital now. They have sustained deep matchete cuts on their heads and parts of their bodies.”
But Mentilo, who denied the allegations, said “it was all lies. I don’t have a hand in their crisis and I have been trying to intervene to ensure amicable solution to their crisis.”
He claimed that he was appointed a caretaker “by the state and and Abuja leader since 16th of July 2018 and all I can say is that all these people that are struggling with me now are too far away from the position they are struggling with me for.”
On the other insinuation he was suspended and that he was no longer a member of RTEAN, Olanbiwonnu said “it is a lie and they are jokers who don’t know what they are saying.”
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