Police operatives have arrested Tajudeen Baruwa after he led members of his faction in an attempt to take over the National Secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) from Musiliu Akinsanya, widely known as MC Oluomo.
The attempted occupation by Baruwa and his loyalists was triggered by a recent judicial victory regarding the leadership of the influential transport union.
On March 12, the National Industrial Court delivered a definitive ruling ordering MC Oluomo to vacate the office of the NURTW President.
The court mandate explicitly directed that Baruwa should formally take over the affairs and administration of the union.
Armed with the court judgment, Baruwa’s faction reportedly stormed the national headquarters to enforce the ruling and assume control of the union’s operations.
The move quickly drew the attention of law enforcement agencies, who intervened to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order at the secretariat.
Police officers subsequently halted the takeover process and took Baruwa into custody.
This incident marks the latest escalation in a protracted leadership crisis that has deeply divided the NURTW.
While the recent National Industrial Court order was anticipated to resolve the ongoing tussle for control, the dramatic arrest of Baruwa signals that the transition of power remains highly volatile and contested.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement detailing the specific reasons for Baruwa’s detention or the current operational status of the secretariat.
