Govt threatens to take over motor parks

Worried by the spate of violent clashes by people identified as motor park touts, popularly called “Agbero” in various parts of the state, Lagos State Government has threatened to take control of such parks where there is disturbance or violent clashes.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, gave the warning, saying the government would no longer condone any act of lawlessness or wanton destruction of lives and properties at the expense of innocent citizens.

According to Ibirogba: “we, therefore, call on the different union leaders to stop, forthwith, such acts of breach to public peace and allow peace to reign in all the motor parks, as government will, henceforth, take over any park where there are disturbances or violent power tussle.
“The recent wave of disturbances at some motor parks in the state, especially in Lagos lsland, occasioned by the struggle for control by the different Union leaders, is, to say the least, very worrisome.
“Government is not happy that union leaders have, in the recent times, been engaging in acts that threaten the public peace through their seeming adoption of violence as the means of achieving supremacy among the contenders for union positions.”

“That these disturbances are going on without recourse to the law and at great risks to innocent citizens, who are now subjected to untold hardship through this lawlessness and act of indiscipline is not acceptable to government.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. kayode Opeifa, has summoned the leadership of warring factions to a closed door meeting with a view to finding an amicable resolution to their differences.
Also, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, I, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, had also had a meeting in his Palace with the opposing parties at the Lagos Island on the need for the warring parties to immediately sheath their swords or be dealt with ruthlessly. (Vanguard)