Task force warns against spreading rumours of MC Oluomo’s death

Lagosians were yesterday warned to stop spreading fake death news of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos State Treasurer, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo. Those caught, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) said will be prosecuted.

A statement by the taskforce spokesman, Taofiq Adebayo, reiterated that the latest rumour about Oluomo’s death circulating on social media is not true. According to him, the agency’s chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), confirmed that Akinsanya is not dead as being speculated but recuperating at the Eko Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

He added that the rumoured death of the NURTW leader by miscreants was to foment trouble and cause panic around Oshodi and other major motor parks in Lagos. “The agency would continue the use of patrol vans and power-bikes to patrol around all nooks and cranny of the entire Oshodi area to forestall any possibility of breakdown of law and order.”

He urged members of the public not to be panic and be going about their lawful businesses around Oshodi and other parts of the state.Also, chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, Idris Muse-Ariyoh, said Akinsanya would soon to return home. He said: “There is no problem in Oshodi. Anyone trying to cause mayhem will be dealt with in accordance with the law. It is a rumour that there is a crisis in Oshodi. Oshodi is peaceful. People are going about their normal duties without panic.”

Meanwhile, market men and women in Oshodi have continued to express fear and worries over the trending death news of MC Oluomo. Since he was stabbed a week ago at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Ikeja, speculations have been rife over his rumoured death and threats of reprisals at his base, which is Oshodi.

A widely advertised prayer session by the Brown Street Oshodi boys was scheduled to hold yesterday at Oshodi under bridge to pray specifically for the quick recovery of MC Oluomo but it was put off after the gathering failed to get clearance by the police, which feared the meeting could further heighten the fragile peace in the area.

A resident, Femi Ewetunde called on residents to calm and ignore the rumours of his death. “We should all be calm at this time. Our mental reaction to pray fro his quick recovery may affect the decision of his hoodlums to cash in on the gathering and make a volatile statement with it. We know the man is in pains. All he needs is our prayer, not mix feelings.”

A trader, simply referred to as Mama Marvelous prayed the story on social media not to be true. “Since last week, I have not opened shop, I just keep a few wares outside ready to lock up at the slightest notice of any riot because that is what would eventually happen if he is announced to have passed on.

“The fact that we hear he was stabbed with a poisoned knife makes the situation worse for us. We are getting tired of this long suspense. There will be trouble because the one they thought they have killed did not die. All who did this will be scared now because they have failed in their mission.”