Gunshots as NURTW factions clash in Garki, Abuja

Chaos erupted in the Garki area of the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday as a violent clash between two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) unfolded on Sapele Crescent, off Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Garki II, Abuja.

This clash has brought to the forefront an ongoing dispute within the NURTW, a situation that observers believe requires urgent intervention by the federal government to prevent further breakdown of law and order, especially in the nation’s capital.

The confrontation occurred when supporters of NURTW President Tajudeen Baruwa marched towards the union’s national headquarters, which is currently occupied by the Lagos Park Management Committee led by Tajudeen Agbede.

Tajudeen Baruwa had previously sought the intervention of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Labour Congress to resolve the situation, but these attempts did not yield results. He vowed to defend his mandate, asserting that only a court of competent jurisdiction could invalidate it. He encouraged aggrieved members to seek legal redress and warned against any actions that could lead to anarchy.

Baruwa also accused former NURTW leaders, Najeem Yasin and Agbede, of holding illegal meetings with selected past leaders of the union. He called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to intervene in the matter, alleging that the police appeared to be favoring the Lagos Park Management Committee.

While the exact number of casualties, if any, remains unconfirmed, eyewitnesses reported that members of the transport union fired several gunshots into the air during the conflict, leading to heightened tension in the area.

Efforts to obtain comments from the FCT Police Command and the Force Headquarters were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting. The situation underscores the need for swift resolution and intervention to prevent further escalation of violence within the NURTW and maintain peace in the nation’s capital.