Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers has been plunged into mourning following the death of its Organising Secretary, Comrade Toba Ajiboye, popularly known as Ijaya, who succumbed to gunshot wounds after a brazen attack by unidentified assailants. Ajiboye was reportedly returning home on Sunday night from his childhood community in the Fadeyi area of Lagos when the gunmen intercepted his vehicle along the Ikorodu Road corridor and opened fire, leaving his white car riddled with multiple bullet holes. Images and videos that circulated widely on social media in the aftermath showed the vehicle with extensive damage to the windscreen and body, a grim testament to the ferocity of the assault that has once again exposed the fragility of security within the state's volatile transport sector.
Initial reports had suggested that Ajiboye and other occupants of the vehicle survived the attack after sustaining gunshot wounds, offering a flicker of hope to colleagues and family members. However, subsequent updates today confirmed the tragic outcome, with the union official later dying from the injuries he sustained despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life. The exact circumstances surrounding the attack and the official cause of death have not yet been formally disclosed by law enforcement authorities, but the incident is being treated by insiders as a suspected assassination given the calculated nature of the assault. The attackers reportedly fled the scene immediately after carrying out the shooting, leaving no immediate clues as to their identity or motive.
The death of Ajiboye has sent shockwaves through the transportation sector and raised urgent questions about the escalating violence targeting union officials in Lagos. Lagos NURTW Chairman, Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle, popularly known as Sego, confirmed the passing in an emotional tribute posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday, describing Ajiboye as a loyal ally, trusted friend, and a pillar of the union's political structure. "The news of the sudden passing of Comrade Toba Ajiboye has left me deeply saddened and heartbroken. It is difficult to come to terms with the loss of such a loyal, dependable, and committed ally," Sego wrote. He further described the late organising secretary as "more than an ally," noting that Ajiboye remained a steadfast supporter of TeamSego and SegoNation throughout his service. Sego extended his heartfelt condolences to Ajiboye's family, friends, and the entire NURTW family, praying for strength to bear what he called a "painful and irreparable loss".
Tensions, however, escalated dramatically on Tuesday when supporters of the slain union leader reportedly prevented security operatives from accessing St. Nicholas Hospital to recover his body. According to sources, a group allegedly led by an associate identified as Sego blocked police officers from taking custody of the corpse and caused a disturbance at the entrance of the hospital. The standoff has added a volatile dimension to an already fraught situation, raising fears of potential reprisal attacks and further unrest within the transport union's ranks. The Lagos State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the hospital confrontation or provide details on the progress of investigations as of the time of filing this report. There has also been no announcement regarding any arrests linked to the incident, leaving a vacuum of information that has done little to calm nerves among union members and residents alike.
The killing has also unearthed a tangled web of speculation linking Ajiboye to previous violent incidents in Lagos. Some sources have pointed to street speculation that the slain transport leader was connected to the killing of a prominent member of the Buccaneers confraternity, identified as Agali, who was shot dead inside his vehicle in the Iponri area of Surulere on April 11, 2026. While these claims remain unverified and have not been substantiated by official investigations, they underscore the complex and often dangerous intersections between union politics, street power, and organised crime that have long plagued the NURTW in Lagos. The union has a history of violent leadership disputes and factional clashes, with previous incidents including the suspension of former Lagos Council Chairman Musiliu Akinsanya, known as MC Oluomo, by the national body, which led to significant internal turmoil. The NURTW moves approximately 80 percent of Lagos passengers and plays a dominant role in shaping public transportation across the state, making its internal conflicts a matter of significant public concern.
Stakeholders across the transport sector and civil society have called on security agencies to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure that those responsible for the attack are identified and brought to justice. The incident has renewed concerns over the security of transport union officials in Lagos, where violent attacks and leadership-related disputes have occasionally resulted in bloodshed. Investigators are expected to examine possible motives behind the killing, including whether it was connected to union activities, personal grievances, or broader criminal networks operating within the state. As the Lagos State Command continues its manhunt for the perpetrators, the death of Toba Ajiboye marks yet another tragic chapter for the Lagos transport community and underscores the urgent need for strengthened security measures to protect public figures and curb violent crime in the metropolis. For now, the union mourns, the police search for answers, and a grieving family waits for the return of a son whose life was cut short in the most brutal of circumstances.
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