Police on Monday arrested Tajudeen Baruwa just hours after he led loyalists to take over the national secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Abuja, intensifying the union’s lingering leadership crisis.
Baruwa, backed by members of his faction, had earlier in the day stormed the union’s headquarters and forcefully assumed control, displacing supporters of Musiliu Akinsanya, widely known as MC Oluomo.
The dramatic move briefly shifted power within the union before security operatives intervened and took Baruwa into custody.
The incident represents the latest escalation in a deepening internal rift that has split the NURTW into rival camps since 2024.
The prolonged dispute has disrupted the union’s operations nationwide and raised concerns about stability within one of Nigeria’s most influential transport bodies.
The crisis traces back to November 2024, when members of the union elected MC Oluomo as National President.
However, the outcome was contested by Baruwa’s camp, leading to a legal battle that further polarized members and created parallel claims to leadership.
A court ruling later favoured Baruwa, effectively complicating the leadership structure and setting the stage for Monday’s confrontation.
With Baruwa now in police custody, uncertainty looms over the next phase of the power struggle and the potential implications for the union’s control and activities across the country.
