COMTUA laments extortion, vandalism, harassment, killing of its members
The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA) has cried out to relevant government agencies on the deep frustration being experienced daily by its members in the course of discharging their lawful duty between Mile 2 and Sunrise bus stop.
A press statement signed by the National President of the council, Prince Adeyinka T. Aroyewun, narrated the gory details of excruciating torture, extortion and destruction of trucks its members face daily in the hands of touts who position themselves along port access roads and major highways in Lagos.
The statement noted sadly that this brazen illegality continues in broad day light without any modicum of check.
“In the face of all these nauseating experiences, we have remained law-abiding: instead of resorting to violence, we have made several petitions and official letters to Government (at different levels) bidding to have relevant Government Authorities call the miscreants to order, all to no avail as all our entreaties are not attended to. Truly, the body language of the Government is only a confirmation of the claim of the touts that they have the backing of the Government and that they work in absolute connivance.”
The statement depicted an unimaginable situation where the miscreants brag openly that nobody and no Government can stop them, as they own the Government and that Yoruba land is theirs, adding that anyone who is unwilling to comply should leave or cease to exist in Lagos, moreso, that they are card-carrying members of the ruling Party.
The statement noted that this brazen lawlessness leaves any rational being to query if the Government functions to encourage and support illegality and criminals who openly act against established law and order in the State.
According to the statement, letters of complaint and consultation to Park and Garages Committee, Park Administration Committee and Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria ( MWUN) on the activities of their members can be described as falling on deaf ears as none yielded results.
The press statement further stated that “Instead of applying civility, they resort to most provocative affront as these groups, in connivance with Government Agencies, increases dues and extortion points.
“To be specific, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria ( MWUN) have 20 points from Coconut to Tin Can Port Second gate where NGN2,000 is forcefully collected per point from our members. This is under the watch of Comrade Adewale Adeyanju ( The president General) whose main coordinator is Taofeek Shorinola (Also Known As and called ) Sheu Tao. They injure and sometimes kill our members for non-compliance to the extortion.
“Park and Garages has Abayomi Abeyi Ajele (Also Known As and called) Ikomodina, Michael Adewale (Also Known As and called ) Hot water and one Raji (Also known As and called ) “Student mount” – in all – 30 extortion points between Mile 2 and Sunrise where between N2,000 and N6,000 are forcefully collected per point: chiboy, Adeleke and others are for park Administrator to collect around Kirikiri, FATGBEMS, Badagry Express Road and inside Amuwo Odofin.”
The statement lamented that another serious concern is the involvement of a Royal father, The Oniba of Iba Land, HRH Sulaimon Adeshina, who encourages his committee members to create more points of extortion.
The statement argued that the role of government is suspicious in this societal vice which is giving grave concern to COMTUA.
The council felt concerned that these pipes and other weapon-wielding boys on roads leading to the ports and parts of the highway are daily on rampage while the Government feels unperturbed.
“The claim that they are members of the ruling Party in the State and therefore are at liberty to commit crimes should be a cause worry and concern for this government if they are not in connivance.
“Most disturbing is that TTP continues monetary collections without considering hardship truckers face in the hand of this hoodlums.
“We are deeply troubled as our members are injured and killed by these criminals daily without any concerns from authorities and this is totally unacceptable especially as our members are living in very hard times due to poor return per trip and debts which is given impetus by this ugly state of affair,” the statement sadly remarked.
Noting that the Maritime Transport industry is dying, COMTUA stated that its members have been pushed to the wall and that this portend grave danger that may result to untoward offensive reaction, hence has deemed it necessary to use the medium of the press statement to, for the umpteenth time, call on relevant authorities to address the criminal extortion and activities of these touts against its members, knowing well that it is illegal.
“All should be reminded that no group has a monopoly of violence and aggression because we have been pushed to the wall”, COMTUA sounded a warning on the final note.