NURTW factions exchange bullets in Abuja days after MC Oluomo rejoined group

Two rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have clashed at the secretariat of the union in Abuja on Tuesday.

One Tajudeen Badru Agbede was said to have mobilised thugs from Lagos to the secretariat of the union located at Garki 2 and attacked national officers, including the current president, Tajudeen Baruwa, according to Sahara Reporters.

Agbede is believed to be a loyalist of Musliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo. The attack is suspected to be part of Oluomo’s plans to gain national position in the union.

PoliticsNow had reported at the weekend how the Lagos State Government scrapped the Lagos State Parks and Garages Committee (LASPARK) after Oluomo and his group rejoined NURTW.

In 2022, MC Oluomo was suspended from NURTW over a series of allegations, including insubordination. At the same time, the Lagos State Government banned NURTW from operating in the State.

As Tajudeen Baruwa’s tenure neared its end, MC Oluomo made a calculated move to support Agbede in his bid to lead the interim caretaker committee that would oversee the union until the next election, per Peoples Gazette report.

The report added that the Lagos group took control of the national secretariat and forced the officers out of their premises. The report accused the State Security Services (SSS) and the Nigeria Police Force of failing to intervene following the violence.

As tensions flared, the Baruwa camp rallied its youthful members in an attempt to retake control of the secretariat from the Agbede faction. However, their efforts were thwarted by the intervention of the earlier passive security agents who resorted to firing warning shots to disperse the angry mob. This escalation of force by the police further exacerbated the volatile atmosphere.