NURTW factions in free-for-all, guns freely used

National Union of Road Transport Workers factions engaged on Tuesday in free-for-all on Sapele Crescent, off Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Garki II, Abuja, causing mayhem.

Guns were said to have been freely used, but the number of casualties could not be confirmed.

This conflict is an aftermath of the escalating tension within the NURTW.

Sources said the clash broke out when supporters of NURTW President, Prof. Tajudeen Baruwa, marched towards the union’s national headquarters, which is currently occupied by the a Committee led by Tajudeen Badru Agbede.

One of the sources said, “As you may be aware, members of the Committee, led by Agbede, forcefully occupied the Secretariat a few weeks ago, displacing the president and other executives.

“Therefore, supporters of the current president mobilized themselves in an effort to remove Agbede and his group.

“However, they were met by a police blockade which resulted in a violent confrontation. Shots were fired, intensifying the gravity of the crisis.”

Baruwa had been seeking intervention of the police and the Nigeria Labour Congress  to resolve the situation, without success.

He subsequently threatened to defend “our mandate with the last drop of our blood.”

He accused the former president of the union, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, and Agbede, the former National Vice President, of holding illegal meetings with selected past leaders of the union.

Baruwa also alleged that the police seem to favour the Committee.

He called on the Inspector General of Police and Director General of the Department of State Services, to intervene in the matter.