The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), identified as Shamsideen Adio, for allegedly beating a dispatch rider to death at Tapa Street, Lagos Island.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, followed a scuffle between Adio and the dispatch rider after claims that the rider had scratched Adio’s vehicle.
Eyewitnesses and social media reports alleged that Adio, aided by colleagues, descended on the rider and brutally assaulted him until he collapsed. A journalist, Chris Nwandu, who shared a video of the incident on Facebook, claimed that Adio was notorious for violent attacks against tricycle operators in the area.
According to him, “He mercilessly beat a dispatch rider to a pulp on Wednesday at Tapa Street for obstructing his way while driving. We are reliably informed that he’s notorious for beating Marwa (tricycle) operators whenever they offend him. Just a few days ago, he also dealt deadly blows to a Marwa operator who ended up in the general hospital.”
Police sources confirmed on Thursday that the victim later died from the injuries he sustained during the assault.
“The victim died from the injuries, and the suspect has been arrested. He is now at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID),” the police source said.
Efforts to reach the newly appointed Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, for official comments were unsuccessful as her line was unreachable at the time of filing this report.