Lagos NURTW Leader Shamsideen To Face Court Over Alleged Murder Of Dispatch Rider As Lagos Assembly Demands Justice

 

The Lagos State Police Command has formally confirmed that Shamsideen Adio, a prominent figure within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) widely known by his street name Shameleon, will face arraignment this Friday. He is being charged over the death of a dispatch rider who lost his life after a violent confrontation that took place on Tapa Street, Lagos Island, on September 17, 2025.

Adio, aged 55, was arrested after witnesses alleged that he initiated the attack when the rider obstructed his vehicle. What began as a minor dispute reportedly spiraled into a vicious assault involving Adio and several of his associates. Eyewitness accounts reveal that the victim was beaten repeatedly, leaving onlookers horrified but too intimidated to intervene.

Footage obtained by SaharaReporters shows Adio, joined by a close companion, raining punches on the rider as a helpless crowd stood by. The disturbing video captured the victim being struck with a helmet and fists until his strength gave way. Emergency responders rushed him to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to the injuries inflicted during the incident.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Bababseyi Oluseyi, confirmed that the suspect is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti-Yaba. According to Oluseyi, Adio will be presented before a court on Friday, with the charge sheet expected to detail the alleged murder and other related offenses.

The incident has ignited widespread outrage across Lagos, with civil society groups, residents, and lawmakers condemning what they describe as an avoidable loss of life fueled by reckless abuse of power. Pressure continues to mount on law enforcement to ensure the prosecution does not end in compromise or delay, a concern often raised in cases involving influential figures.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has also weighed heavily into the matter. Adewale Adedeji, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, delivered a strong statement condemning the act, stressing that such violence should not be associated with a union that operates in the public space. He described Adio’s actions as “barbaric, shameful, inhuman, and heartbreaking,” pledging that lawmakers will closely monitor the case until justice is fully served.

Adedeji further challenged the leadership of the Lagos chapter of the NURTW, led by Alhaji Adekunle Mustapha Seigo, to distance the union from Adio’s actions. He emphasized that immediate suspension was necessary to send a clear signal that lawlessness will not be tolerated within the union’s ranks. According to him, the NURTW must demonstrate discipline and responsibility rather than protecting members who trample on the rights and dignity of ordinary citizens.

Public reactions have also continued to dominate discussions both on the streets and across online platforms. Many Lagosians expressed frustration at the unchecked excesses of certain NURTW leaders, pointing out that this case exemplifies the need for stricter regulation of the transport union. Social commentators insist that the rising influence of transport workers must be balanced with accountability to avoid creating a climate where violence thrives unchecked.

Human rights advocates have called for a comprehensive investigation that will not only prosecute Adio but also identify every accomplice who participated in the fatal assault. They argue that sparing those who assisted in the attack would deny the victim and his family the justice they deserve. The brutality of the act, they noted, reflects a deeper culture of impunity that must be uprooted.

Some residents of Lagos Island where the incident occurred have recounted the chilling details of that evening. According to them, the dispatch rider was not armed and posed no threat, which makes the level of violence inflicted on him difficult to comprehend. His death has left many commercial riders fearful that a similar fate could befall them in the course of their work.

Civil groups are urging the state government to set up mechanisms that will ensure disputes on the road are handled through lawful channels rather than by brute force. They insist that tolerance and conflict resolution must replace the culture of might that too often defines the activities of transport union leaders.

As the court date approaches, expectations are high that the judicial process will not only punish those responsible but also set a precedent that will discourage future acts of violence within Lagos’ bustling transportation sector. The arraignment of Shamsideen Adio has now become a litmus test for both the police and the judiciary, with public confidence at stake.

The tragic death of the dispatch rider has placed a spotlight on the fragility of order in Lagos traffic disputes and the urgent need for reforms. It is a case that now embodies a wider cry for justice and accountability, a cry that both the state and the union cannot afford to ignore.