Dare Babalola
The leadership crisis rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers escalated on Monday as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force arrested its factional leader, Tajudeen Baruwa, shortly after he led a takeover of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Baruwa’s arrest followed a tense standoff at the union’s headquarters, where he and a large number of loyalists reportedly stormed the premises in the early hours of the day, forcefully asserting control. The move was seen as a bold attempt to solidify his claim to the union’s leadership amid an ongoing power struggle.
Eyewitnesses said the situation briefly created panic around the secretariat as supporters of both factions gathered, raising concerns over a possible breakdown of law and order before security operatives intervened.
The development comes amid a prolonged leadership tussle between Baruwa and rival faction leader, Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo. The dispute, which has lingered since 2024, has split the union into rival camps, each laying claim to the presidency.
While MC Oluomo emerged as National President following a controversial election held in November 2024, Baruwa has consistently challenged the legitimacy of that process. The disagreement later escalated into a legal battle, with a court ruling reportedly delivering a judgment in Baruwa’s favour.
Riding on the strength of that ruling, Baruwa and his supporters moved to take physical control of the secretariat, a development that appears to have triggered his arrest by the police.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities have yet to issue an official statement detailing the circumstances surrounding the arrest or the specific charges, if any, against Baruwa. The incident, however, signals a deepening crisis within one of Nigeria’s most influential transport unions, with implications for its operations nationwide.
