Police Arrest Baruwa, Six Others Over NURTW Secretariat Clash

Police Arrest Baruwa, Six Others Over NURTW Secretariat Clash

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested Tajudeen Baruwa and six others over the controversial takeover of the national secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Abuja.

Baruwa, who is laying claim to the union’s presidency, had earlier led a group to the secretariat on Monday, dislodging supporters of Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, citing court rulings said to be in his favour.

Confirming the arrests, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said the command acted swiftly following a distress call received in the early hours of the day.

According to her, the police were alerted at about 7:00 a.m. that a large group of individuals, reportedly numbering about 300 and armed with dangerous weapons including cutlasses, bottles, bows and arrows, had stormed the NURTW headquarters and were removing items from the premises.

She disclosed that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Isyaku Sharu, led a team of officers to the scene to restore order.

Preliminary investigations, she said, revealed that the group was attempting to enforce a court judgment without the presence of authorised court officials such as bailiffs.

The situation, however, escalated into violence when other members of the union resisted the move, leading to a clash.

“One individual sustained severe machete injuries to the neck and was rescued by the police. Several others also suffered varying degrees of injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment,” Adeh said.

She added that seven suspects, including Baruwa, were arrested at the scene and have since been charged before Magistrate Court 1 in Wuse Zone 2.

The police spokesperson also dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging that officers opened fire on union members during the incident, describing the claims as false and intended to mislead the public.

Adeh noted that normalcy has been restored to the area, assuring residents of the command’s commitment to maintaining peace and security across the FCT.

The latest development adds another layer to the ongoing leadership crisis within the NURTW, with rival factions continuing to battle for control of the union following a series of court rulings and internal disputes.