The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), identified as Shamsideen Adio, over the alleged killing of a dispatch rider on Tapa Street, Lagos Island.

Reports indicated that the incident happened on Wednesday after a heated argument broke out between Adio and the rider, who was accused of scratching Adio’s vehicle. The disagreement quickly escalated into violence.

A journalist, Chris Nwandu, who shared a video of the scene on Facebook, alleged that Adio, with the help of his colleagues, repeatedly assaulted the dispatch rider until he collapsed.

He said, “A popular Lagos Island NURTW top official, Shamsideen Adio, mercilessly beat a dispatch rider to a pulp for obstructing his way. He was joined by his friends and colleagues, battering the poor man as they liked. He is notorious for attacking commercial tricycle operators and had recently sent one to the hospital after a similar assault.”

Although the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, was not immediately available for comments, a senior police officer familiar with the matter confirmed the rider’s death.

According to the officer, “The victim died as a result of the injuries he sustained. The suspect has since been arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.”