Lagos NURTW Official, ‘Shamelon,’ To Face Arraignment Over Murder, Assault Charges

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that a 55-year-old official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Samsideen Oladiti, popularly known as Shamelon, will soon be arraigned in court over his alleged involvement in two violent crimes on Lagos Island.

Police said the cases against him include murder and assault occasioning grievous harm, both of which led to the deaths of two victims within weeks. Oladiti is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti-Yaba, as detectives conclude investigations.

According to investigators, on September 17, 2025, at about 3:00 p.m., Oladiti and some accomplices allegedly launched a brutal attack on a dispatch rider. Witnesses claimed the suspect struck the victim multiple times with a helmet and his bare fists. The rider reportedly collapsed on the spot and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed him dead.

Just a day later, police linked the NURTW official to an earlier incident reported on August 28, 2025. In that case, Oladiti was accused of using a metallic ring to repeatedly hit one Adeshina Rahman on the head and face during a heated altercation. Despite receiving medical care, Rahman’s condition worsened, and he died on September 17. His body has since been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, who personally visited the crime scenes with his team of officers, condemned the violent acts, assuring residents that justice would not be compromised.

“No individual, regardless of status or affiliation, is above the law. These incidents are tragic, and we will ensure that due process is followed to the letter,” CP Jimoh stated.

Police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, also confirmed that Oladiti’s arraignment would proceed once investigations are finalized.

“The suspect is in custody at SCID Panti. We have sufficient grounds to prosecute, and the case file will soon be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. The arraignment will follow immediately after,” Adebisi said.

The latest development has reignited conversations around the violent reputation of some NURTW factions on Lagos Island, where clashes and assaults linked to transport union disputes have persisted for years.

Community members, while praising the police for swift action, urged the government to intensify reforms within the union to curb recurring violence.