ABUJA: A fresh leadership crisis has erupted within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) after rival factions clashed over control of the union’s national headquarters in Abuja, triggering legal controversy, police intervention and renewed tension within one of Nigeria’s most influential transport unions.
The unfolding drama centres on the union’s National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, and a rival faction led by Ibikunle Baruwa, both laying claim to leadership of the organisation following conflicting interpretations of court rulings.
The crisis escalated on Monday when supporters of Baruwa reportedly stormed the union’s national secretariat located in Garki II, Abuja, claiming they were enforcing valid court judgments that reinstated him as the legitimate leader of the NURTW.
Baruwa insisted that the takeover was lawful and based on judgments obtained from both a lower court and the Court of Appeal.
According to him, the group had exercised restraint for nearly two years while waiting for the rulings to be implemented but decided to return to the secretariat after what he described as persistent refusal by the opposing camp to obey the court orders.
We are a law-abiding union. Our mission is simply to reclaim what belongs to us through lawful means,Baruwa said while addressing journalists during the attempted takeover.
He maintained that the move was peaceful and not intended to provoke violence, adding that the police had been formally notified ahead of their action and provided with copies of the relevant court rulings.
Baruwa further alleged that one of his supporters was attacked during the confrontation and had to be rushed to hospital for treatment.
The situation soon attracted the attention of the Nigeria Police Force, particularly the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, after reports emerged that a large group of individuals had stormed the union headquarters with weapons.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Josephine Adeh, officers received a distress call around 7:00 a.m. on March 23 indicating that approximately 300 individuals armed with cutlasses, bottles, bows and arrows had invaded the premises and were removing items from the building.
She explained that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Isyaku Sharu, immediately led a response team to the location to restore order.
Upon arrival, preliminary investigations revealed that the group was attempting to enforce a court order without the presence of authorised court officials such as bailiffs or sheriffs.
This, according to the police, triggered resistance from other members of the union already occupying the premises, leading to a violent clash.
One victim sustained severe machete wounds to the neck during the confrontation, Adeh stated, noting that the injured individual was rescued by police officers and taken to a nearby hospital along with others who sustained injuries.
Following the incident, the police arrested seven suspects believed to have participated in the violent confrontation.
Those arrested included Baruwa himself, alongside six other individuals identified as Sulaiman A. Musa, Nasiru Ibrahim, Alhaji Sadisu Musa, Dalha Suleiman, Abdullahi Garba and Saheed Fojebi.
Authorities confirmed that the suspects were subsequently arraigned before Magistrates’ Court 1 in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, over their alleged roles in the unrest.
Police officials also dismissed claims circulating on social media that officers opened fire on union members during the incident, describing the reports as false and misleading.
Adeh said officers merely intervened to restore order and prevent further escalation.
The command wishes to state clearly that allegations that police personnel shot at NURTW members are false and intended to incite public sentiment, she explained.
Despite the dramatic takeover attempt, Akinsanya — widely known as MC Oluomo — later returned to the headquarters on Tuesday after his supporters regained control of the facility.
A video circulating online showed him visiting the premises to assess the extent of damage allegedly caused during the confrontation between the rival factions.
Reacting to the earlier occupation of the secretariat, Akinsanya described the move by Baruwa’s group as a forceful takeover.
In a statement shared via his social media platforms, he insisted that the legal battle over the union’s leadership was still ongoing in court.
Akinsanya argued that he was not a party to the court judgment cited by Baruwa and that the ruling had already been appealed.
According to him, a stay of execution had also been filed, meaning the judgment could not be enforced until the appeal process was concluded.
“The National President wishes to inform members of the union and the general public that he was not a defendant in the purported judgment, the statement said.
He maintained that the union leadership remained under his control and urged members nationwide to remain calm and avoid violence while the courts resolved the matter.
“The situation is under the control of security agencies. Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya remains the National President of the union, the statement added.
The latest confrontation highlights the deep leadership divisions that have plagued the NURTW in recent years.
The union, which wields enormous influence across Nigeria’s transport sector and motor parks, has frequently been caught in leadership struggles that often carry political implications.
Observers say control of the organization is highly contested due to its vast membership and strategic role in urban transport networks, especially in major cities like Lagos and Abuja.
As the legal battle between the rival factions continues, security agencies are expected to maintain a close watch on the union’s headquarters to prevent further clashes.
For now, the crisis remains unresolved, with both Akinsanya and Baruwa insisting they hold legitimate authority over the NURTW, setting the stage for what could become a prolonged legal and political showdown within the powerful transport union.
