NURTW Member, Shamsideen Adio Kills Dispatch Rider As Lagos Assembly Reacts
Rahmon strapped on his helmet, mounted his motorbike, and set out to deliver packages across Lagos on Thursday. It was supposed to be another day in the bustling chaos of the city, another day of chasing wages to support himself and his loved ones. But by evening, Rahmon was no more.
The young dispatch rider’s life was cut short on Tapa Street, Lagos Island, in an incident that has shocked the city and ignited a wave of anger online. A widely circulated video showed him being assaulted by a National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) member, Shamsideen Adio, and his associates.
The footage was as chilling as it was heartbreaking. Even after Rahmon collapsed, unconscious, those around him continued the assault. Attempts to resuscitate him were drowned out by blows that spoke more of cruelty than of humanity.
It is against this backdrop that the Lagos State House of Assembly has raised its voice. The Chairman of its Committee on Transportation, Hon. Adewale Temitope Adedeji, has condemned the act in the strongest terms. His words echoed the pain of a state that has once again lost one of its own to lawlessness.
“To snuff life out of a fellow human being is barbaric, shameful, inhuman, and heartbreaking,” he declared. “This is not just about Rahmon, it is about the value we place on human life in Lagos State.”
For Hon. Adewale, the tragedy is a reminder of how fragile life can be in a city where survival often feels like a daily battle. “Here was a man who left home to earn a living, only to be cut down because someone believed he was above the law,” he said.
The Assemblyman did not stop at condemning the suspect. He placed responsibility squarely at the feet of the NURTW. “A professional union cannot be home to lawless individuals who treat others as disposable,” he insisted, calling for Shamsideen’s suspension and urging the leadership of the union to educate its members.
For many Lagosians, Rahmon’s story is a grim reflection of everyday vulnerability. Dispatch riders weave through traffic daily, braving reckless drivers and volatile encounters. But no one expects that their greatest danger would come from the very community they share the road with.
Civil society groups and ordinary citizens alike have expressed their outrage, demanding accountability not just for Shamsideen, but for everyone who raised a hand against Rahmon. In their view, silence or delay in justice would only normalize violence.
The Lagos State Police Command has already acted, swiftly arresting the main suspect. Yet, as Hon. Adewale pointed out, arrest is only the beginning. The true test lies in whether the courts will deliver justice without compromise.
“Lagosians want to see that justice is done. If punishment is meted out, others will learn that no one has the right to take a life,” the legislator said, his tone carrying both urgency and resolve.
The death of Rahmon now sits at the intersection of grief and governance. His family mourns a life stolen in the prime of its hustle, while lawmakers demand that institutions prove they can defend the sanctity of human life.
It is also a test for the NURTW, an organization often accused of harboring violent elements. How its leadership responds may determine whether it can regain the trust of the public it serves—or sink further into disrepute.
For the people of Lagos, Rahmon’s tragedy is more than a headline. It is a story of vulnerability, of injustice, and of a collective demand for change. It is also a stark reminder that beneath the noise of the city are countless lives, each deserving dignity and protection.
As candles flicker in memory of Rahmon, Lagosians wait for justice—not just for a dispatch rider who never made it home, but for a city that must decide what value it truly places on human
