Family members, colleagues and sympathisers gathered in Lagos to bid a final farewell to Toba Ajiboye, popularly known as Toba Ijaya, the Organising Secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who was buried days after he was fatally shot by unidentified gunmen.
The emotional burial ceremony drew mourners from across the transport union and political circles, with many paying tribute to Ajiboye’s contributions to the union and describing his death as a painful loss.
Ajiboye died after sustaining gunshot wounds when gunmen ambushed his vehicle along the Ikorodu Road corridor in Lagos on the night of July 12 while he was returning home from the Fadeyi area. Although he was initially rushed to hospital for treatment, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Following the attack, Lagos State NURTW Chairman, Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle, popularly known as Sego, described the late union official as a loyal ally, trusted friend and committed leader whose dedication to the organisation would not be forgotten. He extended condolences to Ajiboye’s family and prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul.
The killing has heightened concerns over the safety of transport union officials in Lagos, with Ajiboye becoming one of several senior NURTW figures killed in violent attacks in recent years.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command says investigations into the incident are ongoing. Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani has assured residents and members of the transport unions that security agencies are committed to identifying, arresting and prosecuting those responsible for the killing.
The police chief also appealed to members of the NURTW and the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to remain calm and avoid reprisals, stressing that the investigation would be conducted professionally and transparently.
As mourners paid their final respects, colleagues remembered Ajiboye as a dedicated union leader whose death has left a significant void within the Lagos transport community, while renewed calls were made for justice and stronger security measures to prevent similar attacks.
