Five Hospitalised After Rival Transport Unions Clash in Nigeria’s Kwara State
Clashes Erupt in Kwara State Capital
Pandemonium broke out in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Monday as members of rival transport unions clashed, leaving more than five persons injured and hospitalised. [1] The violence, which disrupted activities around the Idi-Araba and Itakudimo areas of the metropolis, followed an alleged attack on the office of the National Association of Road Transport Owners. [1] A resident, Mubaraq Bello, said the disturbance began when some youths arrived in tricycles, armed with cutlasses and other weapons, and moved towards the NARTO office. [1] “We were at home when we suddenly saw some youths alighting from tricycles with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons before moving towards the NARTO office. Some of them started throwing stones at the building, and that was when the situation became tense,” Bello told our correspondent. [1]
Union Accusations and Underlying Tensions
A member of NARTO, Abubakar Olatunbosun, accused members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria and the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria of attacking members of his association. [1] Olatunbosun alleged that the attack occurred as NARTO members were heading to the Kwara State Police Headquarters to seek intervention over the dispute. [1] “We were on our way to the police headquarters when we were attacked by members of the other unions. More than 100 tricycles belonging to our members have also been seized, and we are appealing to the state government to intervene before the situation gets out of hand,” Olatunbosun said. [1] Two persons injured during the violence, Abdulwasiu Jamiu and Lukman Iyanda, also alleged that their tricycles were forcefully taken from them. [1] Jamiu alleged that several tricycle operators were attacked and injured during the clash. [1] “They attacked us, took away our tricycles and injured some of our members,” Jamiu said. [1] Iyanda, who was said to have sustained an injury to his hand, alleged that he was attacked while operating his tricycle at Itakudimo. [1] “I was working with my tricycle at Itakudimo when I was attacked. My hand was injured during the incident,” he said. [1] The Financial Secretary of the Kwara State Tricycle Riders, Abdullahi Abdulraheem, alleged that tricycles operating on major roads in the state were being seized following a directive allegedly issued by the Commissioner for Transportation, Aliyu Korasabi. [1] Another tricycle operator, Mustapha Abdulateef, alleged that the rising cost of union tickets, police harassment and other challenges faced by riders had contributed to the decision of some operators to join NARTO. [1] Abdulateef said NARTO had also been assisting unemployed youths to acquire tricycles through instalment payments. [1] “We are only trying to create opportunities for unemployed youths through the tricycle business. We have a court order recognising our right to operate independently, and we should not be intimidated or prevented from carrying out our legitimate business,” Abdulateef added. [1]
Government Ministry Responds
The Kwara State Ministry of Transportation denied allegations of intimidation, bias and preferential treatment in the dispute, insisting that it had maintained a neutral position among the transport unions operating in the state. [1] The ministry, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Press Secretary, Alabere Ahmed, described the allegations as unfounded and an attempt to cast aspersions on its integrity. [1] The Commissioner for Transportation, Korasabi, also expressed concern over what the ministry described as a late-night visit by some NARTO members to its premises. [1] “I wish to reiterate that the Ministry of Transportation has no arrangement or special treatment for any transport union in the state. As a government, our sole mandate is to continue coordinating the operations of all transport sectors in a lawful and equitable manner”, Korasabi said. [1] The commissioner said the disagreement involving NARTO, the NURTW, RTEAN and TOAN had been addressed on several occasions by the ministry in the presence of relevant stakeholders and government officials. [1] According to Korasabi, the matter is still before a court, which he said had directed the parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case. [1] The ministry also denied carrying out the impoundment of tricycles reported earlier on Monday, saying the action was not undertaken at its instance. [1] The ministry said the intervention of the police prevented the disagreement from escalating into a wider confrontation. [1] The state government urged the public to disregard what it described as unsubstantiated allegations against the ministry and cautioned against demonstrations at government premises while the matter remained before the court. [1]
Sudan Civilian Groups Reject Dialogue Offer
Sudanese anti-war civilian and political forces have rejected Sovereignty Council President and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan’s call for political dialogue, arguing that no credible political process can take place while the war continues. [3] The position was renewed at the end of a two-day meeting in Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa, where political parties, including the forces behind the “Sudanese Declaration of Principles”, the Popular Congress Party, the Umma Party, civil society organisations, and feminist and youth networks agreed that Sudan needs a genuine peace process focused on stopping the fighting and addressing the humanitarian crisis. [3] The participants described El Burhan’s dialogue call as a political manoeuvre aimed at consolidating the army’s authority, granting it political legitimacy and paving the way for elements of the former regime and the Islamic movement to return to power. [3] The participants adopted a joint position paper, The Peace Process We Want, calling for an independent political process free from the dominance of either party to the conflict and rejecting dialogue that could entrench military rule. [3] Former Prime Minister and Civil Democratic Alliance of Revolutionary Forces president Abdalla Hamdok described the Addis Ababa gathering as a major development for Sudan’s civilian forces. [3] The anti-war forces reaffirmed their support for the Quadrilateral Roadmap issued in September 2025 and called for a unified international mediation framework. [3] Their proposed action plan includes measures for the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces to de-escalate the conflict and agree to an immediate truce. [3] Participants also agreed to form a joint committee to coordinate the positions and vision of the anti-war civilian camp. [3]
DR Congo Peace Roadmap Faces Hurdles
Representatives of the Congolese government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group agreed on a roadmap for peace after negotiations in Geneva. [2] It builds on the US-brokered framework signed in Doha last year, and sets out steps and timelines for negotiations and implementation. [2] The United States, Qatar, the African Union and Switzerland have all expressed their support for the process as brokers of the push for peace. [2] However, it is not a full peace plan with binding resolutions and terms. [2] Fighting in the region has killed hundreds of civilians and displaced millions since 2022. [2] The M23 rebel group continues to control large parts of North Kivu and South Kivu. [2] “There are likely to be many more bumps on the road — disagreements remain over issues including sanctions against M23, the release of detainees and the timing of political reforms. So this remains a very fragile commitment,” Alex Vines, Africa program director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told DW. [2] Conflict analyst Clifton Chifuwe, executive director of the Centre for Peace Research and Advocacy, agrees with that assessment, pointing to the presence of multiple armed groups in the area, the deep level of mistrust between DRC and Rwanda, and competition over eastern Congo’s mineral wealth. [2] Rwanda has repeatedly rejected accusations that it backs M23 rebels. [2] Kigali’s relationship with the rebel group therefore remains central to the peace process, says Vines. [2] Rwandan President Paul Kagame rejects the narrative that Rwanda is responsible for the current conflict, blaming factions within the DRC instead. [2]
UNMISS Peacekeepers Killed in South Sudan Ambush
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan strongly condemns today’s ambush on its patrol travelling to Pajut, Jonglei state, by unidentified armed individuals. [5] Two peacekeepers were killed in the attack, while seven others were injured, including three peacekeepers, two South Sudan National Police Service personnel and two civilian staff. [5] The Mission has deployed a Quick Reaction Force to secure the area and support the emergency response. [5]
What to watch next: Observers will monitor whether the court order in Kwara State maintains the status quo among transport unions, whether Sudanese civilian forces advance their proposed truce measures through the new coordination committee, and whether the Geneva roadmap for eastern DR Congo can overcome remaining disagreements on sanctions and Rwanda’s role during implementation.
