Fresh drama has erupted in the leadership crisis rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) as police on Monday arrested Tajudeen Baruwa, despite a court ruling affirming him as the authentic chairman of the union.
Baruwa was reportedly apprehended shortly after leading members of his faction to take over the union’s national secretariat in Abuja from a rival group loyal to Musiliu Akinsanya.
Earlier in the day, Baruwa and his supporters had stormed the headquarters of the transport union, seizing control of the premises in what observers described as a bold and calculated move following favourable court judgments.
The leadership tussle between Baruwa and Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has persisted since 2024, creating deep divisions within the union. While delegates of the NURTW elected Akinsanya as National President in November 2024, the dispute later escalated into a legal battle that produced a court ruling in Baruwa’s favour.
Despite the judicial pronouncement, Baruwa’s arrest has sparked fresh concerns over the enforcement of court orders and the role of security agencies in the protracted crisis.
However, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command said its officers only intervened to restore order following a distress call.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed that the Command received a report at about 7:00 a.m. on March 23, 2026, alleging that about 300 individuals armed with cutlasses, bottles, bows, and arrows had stormed the NURTW headquarters located in Garki II, Abuja, and were removing items from the premises.
She added that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Isyaku Sharu, led a response team to the scene, where preliminary investigations indicated that the group attempted to enforce a court order without the presence of court sheriffs and other authorised officials.
According to the police, the situation escalated into a physical confrontation when other union members resisted the move, resulting in one individual sustaining severe machete wounds to the neck.
The Command also dismissed viral reports alleging that its personnel shot at NURTW members during the incident, describing such claims as false and misleading, and aimed at inciting public sentiment.
As of the time of filing this report, the situation remains tense, with supporters of both factions continuing to assert control over the leadership of the influential transport union.
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