The police on Monday arrested Tajudeen Baruwa hours after he led members of his faction to take over the national secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Abuja.
Baruwa was reportedly apprehended shortly after he and his supporters stormed the union’s headquarters in the early hours of the day, dislodging a rival faction loyal to Ayinde Akinsanya.
Sources said the operation, which led to the forceful takeover of the secretariat, heightened tensions within the union, already embroiled in a protracted leadership crisis.
The NURTW has been sharply divided since 2024, following a fierce power struggle between Baruwa and Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
While MC Oluomo was elected as the union’s National President in November 2024, the leadership dispute later escalated into a legal battle.
A court ruling subsequently recognised Baruwa’s claim, further deepening the factional divide within the influential transport body.
Monday’s development marks a dramatic twist in the lingering crisis, with the police intervention coming amid fears of a breakdown of law and order.
As of the time of filing this report, the police authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the circumstances surrounding Baruwa’s arrest or the charges against him.
Efforts to reach representatives of both factions for comments were unsuccessful as tensions continued to mount over control of the union’s leadership and assets.
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