Abuja — The constant clash between members of the NURTW and NARTO has led to the death of the chairman of Gwagwalada Drivers Association. Rashidi Ishola was also a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Gwagwalada before he was stabbed to death.

Recently, the police area commander, Gwagwalada, called some executive members of NURTW and instructed them not to allow any driver pick passengers along Abuja-Lokoja road since it is a busy major road. This measure he said will reduce the high wave of accidents and crimes within Gwagwalada and its environs.

In compliance with this directive, on May 21, the deceased while trying to prevent one Husseni, a driver, picking passengers from the road, a man popularly known as Bakassi, accosted the deceased and challenged him on whose authority he was stopping the driver from picking passengers by the road side. Bakassi then slapped the deceased while his friend Tochukwu Ugochukwu stabbed the deceased with a sharp knife.

While Ugochukwu was attempting to escape, Rafiu Lateef, also a driver at the scene, tried to apprehend him but was stabbed in the stomach and his right hand. Bakassi, who also had a knife in his possession, was overpowered by the large crowd who rushed to the scene and he was handed over to the police.

Mr. Ugochukwu, father to the murderer, was also apprehended and both of them were handed over to the police in Gwagwalada, while the matter was transferred to the FCT police command, Abuja. They were detained for a few days and released on bail by the police while Ugochukwu, the murderer, has been seen in the streets of Gwagwalada as if nothing happened.

The deceased was a family man and the bread winner of his family. He left behind his aged mother, wife, Mrs. Taibat Rashidi and five children. His counsel, Dawud Sulayman, said he has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Inspector General of Police on the gruesome murder of Rashidi Ishola.