The assassination of the Lagos State Organising Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Toba Ajiboye, popularly known as Toba Ijaya, has renewed public attention on the long-running history of violence linked to motor park politics and rival transport union factions in parts of Lagos State.
According to a report by The PUNCH, family members, friends, associates, and supporters gathered in Fadeyi on Tuesday to pay their final respects to the slain union leader. While mourners remembered Ajiboye and paid tribute to his life, his killing has also reignited discussions about years of violent confrontations that have affected the Mushin-Fadeyi corridor.
Residents familiar with the area described the Mushin-Fadeyi axis as a longstanding flashpoint for clashes involving transport union factions, cult groups, political interests, and struggles over territorial control. Over the years, repeated outbreaks of violence in the area have claimed numerous lives and heightened security concerns among residents.
Ajiboye’s name had previously appeared in public allegations, police investigations, and media reports concerning some of the violence recorded in the community.
According to court records cited by The PUNCH, Ajiboye was arraigned in 2014 alongside Adigun Oriyomi and others over allegations relating to killings connected with unrest in Mushin. One of the charges reported by PUNCH Metro alleged that the defendants unlawfully killed Muninat Agbabiaka on Ewenla Street in Mushin.
However, the proceedings did not result in convictions on those allegations against Ajiboye. The report noted that Oriyomi was eventually convicted only in connection with the murder of his friend, Femi Adekeye, after the victim’s daughter testified during the trial. The remaining allegations did not lead to convictions because the court found there was insufficient evidence.
Following Ajiboye’s arraignment at the time, some of his supporters staged protests, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to secure his release.
According to The PUNCH, the protest later turned violent after demonstrators reportedly clashed with members of a rival faction believed to be aligned with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The confrontation reportedly resulted in the deaths of two people.
The report further recalled that the Mushin-Fadeyi area has experienced repeated violent confrontations over the years as rival groups battled for influence and control within the transport sector.
One of the most notable incidents occurred in 2014 when police reportedly recovered the severed head of a 28-year-old man, identified as Ibikunle Tunde, following a deadly cult clash in the community.
In the wake of Ajiboye’s assassination, some residents have suggested that the killing may be connected to the area’s longstanding cycle of violence. However, these claims remain speculative and have not been confirmed by law enforcement authorities.
A community source, who spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the matter, suggested that the incident could be linked to reprisals arising from the prolonged rivalry in the area.
“The Fadeyi gang war has been going on for years. This may not be unconnected with reprisal,” the source said.
The report also stated that speculation has circulated on social media linking Ajiboye’s death to the April 2026 killing of a suspected member of the Buccaneers cult group known as Agali.
Another resident of the area where the deceased lived also alleged that there could be a connection between the two incidents.
“It is believed that he was assassinated over the murder of Agali in Surulere. They believe that the assailants ran to his place and he shielded them,” the resident claimed.
However, the source did not provide evidence to support the allegation, and there has been no official confirmation linking Ajiboye’s assassination to the death of Agali or to any other specific incident.
As of the time of the report, security agencies had not publicly established a motive for the killing or identified those responsible.
The assassination has nevertheless revived public discussion about the persistent violence associated with transport union politics and criminal rivalries in parts of Lagos State, particularly within the Mushin-Fadeyi axis, where repeated clashes have claimed lives over the years.
Residents and community stakeholders have continued to express concern over the recurring violence, urging law enforcement agencies to carry out a thorough investigation into Ajiboye’s killing and bring those responsible to justice.
They also called for renewed efforts to address the underlying causes of conflict in the area, including rivalries among transport union factions and other criminal groups that have contributed to years of instability.
While speculation surrounding the motive for Ajiboye’s assassination continues, no official findings have been released by the police. The claims made by community sources and social media users remain unverified, and investigators are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the killing through ongoing inquiries.
