The police command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has confirmed the arrest of Tajudeen Baruwa and six other suspects over the forceful takeover of the national secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the nation’s capital.
Baruwa, a former president of the union, had on Monday led some persons to the secretariat after dislodging Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, citing a series of court rulings.
He referenced a November 2024 judgement in which the court of appeal in Abuja affirmed him as the NURTW president, upholding the earlier ruling of the national industrial court, which had reinstated him in March for a second term.
The development sparked outrage with clips circulating on social media alleging that personnel of the FCT police command shot at some NURTW members at the union’s headquarters during the takeover bid.
However, in a statement on Monday, Josephine Adeh, spokesperson of the FCT police command, described the claims as false and misleading, saying they were aimed at stirring public sentiment.
Adeh said the command received a distress call at about 7am, that about 300 persons armed with cutlasses, bottles, bows and arrows had stormed the NURTW headquarters and were removing items from the premises.
She said Isyaku Sharu, deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations, led a response team to the scene.
According to her, preliminary investigation showed that the suspects were attempting to enforce a court order on the premises without the presence of court sheriffs and other relevant officials.
The police spokesperson said the action later degenerated into a physical confrontation when other members of the union resisted them, leaving one person with severe machete wounds to the neck.
She added that the injured person was rescued by the police team, while several others who sustained varying degrees of injuries were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Adeh said seven suspects, including Baruwa, were arrested at the scene.
She identified other suspects as Sulaiman Musa, Nasiru Ibrahim, Alhaji Sadisu Musa, Dalha Suleiman, Abdullahi Garba, Saheed Fojebi.
“They have been charged to Magistrate court 1 Wuse Zone 2, While normalcy has since been restored to the area,” the statement reads.
“The Command remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents of the FCT.”
