At least three people were injured on Monday following a violent clash between rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) during an attempt to take control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The confrontation occurred when members of a faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa moved to reclaim the facility, displacing supporters loyal to Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
Baruwa alleged that his supporters were attacked during what he described as a lawful move to enforce court judgments recognising him as the union’s national chairman.
“They wounded three people. We saw them with guns and machetes, and one of them macheted a man on his ear. We have taken the man to the hospital. That is the only resistance that we have today,” he said.
Despite the violence, Baruwa insisted the takeover was peaceful and carried out in compliance with judicial rulings. According to him, his faction had waited nearly two years for the enforcement of court decisions affirming his leadership before taking action.
“We are a law-abiding union whose only aim is to recover what belongs to us. This is not a forceful takeover but an implementation of court orders,” he stated.
Baruwa said judgments from both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja had affirmed his position as the legitimate leader of the union.
He added that the union had previously notified the Nigeria Police Force, submitting copies of the rulings to facilitate a smooth handover.
However, he expressed dissatisfaction with the police response, noting that it failed to prevent the outbreak of violence.
The incident marks a fresh escalation in the long-running leadership crisis within the NURTW, which has been characterised by factional disputes, court battles, and competing claims to the union’s top position.
The conflict intensified after Baruwa opposed the emergence of Akinsanya as the union’s president, with both camps relying on separate interpretations of court rulings to assert legitimacy.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the clash as tensions remain high within the union.
