Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Abuja, Nigeria — In a dramatic escalation of a long‑running and bitter leadership crisis within one of Nigeria’s most influential labour organisations, Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, widely recognised by the courts as the legitimate president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), was arrested by police on Monday, March 23, 2026, shortly after he led his faction to seize control of the union’s national secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory’s Garki II district. The operation — which saw Baruwa and supporters dislodge the faction loyal to Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo) — marked one of the most volatile chapters in the dispute that has rocked the union since 2024.
Baruwa’s move to reclaim the union headquarters came after a series of court rulings affirming his leadership rights following years of fragmentation and legal battles. In November 2024, MC Oluomo had been elected president at a delegates’ conference, but rival factions quickly challenged the outcome, arguing the process was flawed and unconstitutional. The legal fight culminated in a National Industrial Court judgment and subsequent affirmations by appellate courts declaring Baruwa the rightful president of the NURTW, a decision his supporters say provides full legal backing for the takeover.
Early on Monday, Baruwa’s faction mobilised at the union’s national headquarters, asserting that their action was not a forceful coup but the lawful execution of court directives. Baruwa addressed journalists at the scene before his arrest, insisting that the takeover was peaceful and necessary because of the other faction’s refusal to obey court orders for more than two years. His supporters also circulated notices they said were submitted to security agencies in advance, notifying authorities of their intent to enforce judicial rulings.
However, law enforcement officials portrayed the events differently. The Federal Capital Territory Police Command said it responded to a distress call around 7:00 a.m. reporting that roughly 300 individuals armed with weapons including cutlasses, bottles and bows had stormed the secretariat and were removing items from the building. Police urged calm and said they intervened to prevent a breakdown of law and order, emphasising that enforcement of court orders ordinarily involves authorised court officials such as sheriffs, whose absence complicated the situation.
According to the police, the confrontation quickly grew heated when other members of the union resisted Baruwa’s faction’s actions, resulting in at least one person suffering severe machete wounds to the neck and several others being taken to hospital for treatment. Officers at the scene did not fire live ammunition, the police command clarified, dismissing social media claims that circulated footage allegedly showing gunfire. Seven suspects — including Baruwa — were arrested and charged with offences such as public disturbance and breach of peace, and have been brought before Magistrate Court 1 in Wuse Zone 2, with normalcy since restored to the area.
News of Baruwa’s arrest has drawn swift and intense reaction across political, legal and labour circles. Supporters of Baruwa’s leadership condemned the police action as partial and contrary to rule of law, claiming he was simply executing lawful court orders that had been ignored for years. A number of union advocates and lawyers criticised the police for failing to enforce the court directives consistently, saying that the arrest of a leader acting under legal authority undermines the judiciary and emboldens impunity. These voices also allege that security agencies have at times shown preferential treatment to one faction over the other, complicating efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully.
The discontent resonates with historical concerns about the union’s internal dynamics. Scholars and analysts note that the NURTW has long been plagued by rivalries and factionalism, often influenced by broader political interests. Leadership contests have occasionally spilled into violent confrontations in various states, and the union’s powerful role in regulating commercial transport — including levies, park operations and driver management — has made it a focal point of political manoeuvring and social tension.
Earlier reports suggest that disagreements over leadership and control have persisted for years, with Baruwa previously accusing rival group leaders of illegal occupation of the union’s national secretariat and refusing to vacate offices even after court orders were issued. Relations between Baruwa’s camp and opposing groups have grown increasingly fractious, with both sides calling for legal redress, intervention by labour organisations, and respect for due process — although consensus has remained elusive.
The NURTW crisis cannot be understood without considering its broader implications for Nigeria’s labour and political environment. The union represents thousands of transport workers nationwide and plays a significant role in the daily functioning of urban transport networks. Persistent leadership disputes not only disrupt internal governance but also threaten stability in urban mobility, labour relations, and the rule of law. Observers say the unfolding situation will test Nigeria’s legal institutions, law enforcement neutrality, and the authority of judicial pronouncements in highly charged union conflicts.
As Baruwa and others face legal proceedings over Monday’s events, calls for de‑escalation, dialogue and a structured resolution process are intensifying. Both factions may turn to higher judicial forums for clarity, while stakeholders from the Nigeria Labour Congress and civil society pressure for a peaceful, law‑abiding solution. The coming days are likely to determine whether the NURTW can emerge from its protracted leadership dispute or whether the internal strife will continue to plague one of Nigeria’s most strategic labour organisations.
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