Police Arrest NURTW Leaders Ahead of Inauguration Ceremony in Abuja

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has arrested the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, and three other top officials of the union. The union’s Deputy President, Isa Ore, confirmed this on Saturday.

Ore said that Baruwa, the General Secretary, Anthony Asogwa Chukudi; the National Trustee, Olayi Odion; and the Principal Assistant Secretary, Abdulrasak Yemi, were detained at the Wuse Zone 3 Division in Abuja since Friday evening.

He said that the arrest was carried out by armed policemen and personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), who stormed and sealed off the union’s National Secretariat at Garki 2, Abuja, around 5 pm on Friday.

He said that no reason was given for the invasion and that all the occupants were ordered to leave the premises.

Ore said that the arrest came as a surprise to the union, which had requested police protection from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command to prevent any violent protest or disruption of its inauguration ceremony scheduled for Saturday, August 12.

The union had earlier issued a statement on Wednesday, August 9, alleging that some disgruntled elements were planning to stage a protest at the secretariat against the outcome of the delegates’ conference that elected the new officials in May 2023.

The union said that it had followed due process and conducted a free and fair election that produced Baruwa as the new President and other members of the National Administrative Council (NAC), who were supposed to be sworn in today (Saturday), August 12.

The union appealed to the authorities to release its leaders and allow it to conduct its inauguration ceremony peacefully. It also urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding in the face of the provocation.