AS the rivalry between two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) continues to run deep between foot soldiers and loyalists of Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo and late Olayemi Eniola also known as Esi Oluwo, resulting in the death last week of MC Oluomo’s close aide, Olayinka Mamowora, aka Mamok, residents of Oshodi and environs are living in panic over fears of unending reprisal attacks.

It was gathered that the 43-year-old Mamok had just returned from the United Kingdom where his family resided. He was said to have gone to Mosaku Street to cut his hair on last Wednesday when three gunmen, dressed in black, entered the salon and shot him. He was killed after a bullet hit him in the head.

A resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Mamok was killed because he was suspected to have fired the shot that killed Esi-Oluwo. He alleged that one IK, who was an aide of the slain leader, led the squad that killed Mamok as a reprisal for his boss’ death.

He said: “MC Oluomo and Esi-Oluwo were rivals for the leadership of the NURTW in Oshodi. Both men also supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), respectively, prior to the general elections. But Asiwaju Tinubu (a former Lagos governor) mediated in the fight. Some days after, Esi-Oluwo was killed and Mamok was fingered as the culprit.”

In a telephone interview with The Guardian at the weekend, Ikechukwu Jeff, popularly known as IK, debunked the allegation linking him to the assassination of Mamok, whom he described as a big brother.

Mamok is like a big brother to me. I was called that evening that someone who is close to me was having some domestic problem, which I was called to mediate. It was on my way back that I saw people running helter-skelter. I ran too before somebody called to inform me of Mamok’s death.

Myself and one Talo who is in Mecca for Hajj was mentioned as the killers of Mamok. Honestly, I was not close to the area where the incident took place and Talo who was also implicated is yet to return from Mecca. I don’t know who killed Mamok and people must stop spreading rumours to implicate me, he said.

However, a source of worry for residents is a warning message circulating on social media platforms warning Lagosians of staying away from Oshodi and its environs, which reads: “Warning, beware of passing through Oshodi in the next few days. A key man in the MC Oluomo group called Mamok was gunned down. Oluomo himself went to carry his corpse and he promised immediate response that will shake Oshodi and its environ. Please be careful and get information before passing through that area in the next few days.”

A police source from the Makinde division, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “I also got the same message but I want to confirm to you that it’s just a rumour. Oluomo will never make such statement, and the MC that I know is a nice person who goes about his business. The incident was so ugly, that such assassination can take place in that kind of environment, and nobody could trace the killer, but we are on top of the situation.”