By Atinuke Alao
A team of the Nigerian Police Force has taken into custody the embattled National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, over his attempt to resume office at the National Secretariat of the union on Monday.
The armed police operatives were mobilized to the National Headquarters of the NURTW after Baruwa and his supporters stormed the facility to take over the control in line with the court judgement that reinstated him.
Wind Gate News reports that prior to the judgement, Musiliu Akinsanya, who is popularly known as MC Oluomo, had been operating as the National President of the union with the alleged backing of the power that be.
A National Industrial Court of Nigeria had on March 12, 2026 ordered MC Oluomo to vacate the office to enable Baruwa to resume as the President of the union.
However, the resumption of the court-backed Baruwa on Monday was reportedly setting stage for a possible bloodshed, which may arise from confrontation between loyalists of Baruwa and MC Oluomo.
In an interview at the NURTW secretariat before the police arrest on Monday, Baruwa, with supporters from across the country, said two court judgments delivered in his favour backed his actions.
Following the victory, he said the union formally notified the Nigerian Police, attaching copies of the court judgments to facilitate the recovery of its secretariat.
However, he noted that the responses were not encouraging, prompting the union to send another notice a few days ago, declaring its intention to take over the secretariat and resume duties in line with the court rulings.
Baruwa said, “Their body language has not been encouraging despite repeated assurance that we are not going back to foment any trouble as we are a law-abiding union whose only mission is to get back what belonged to us.
“But today, as you can see, we are taking over in a peaceful manner, and it is not a forceful takeover but just carrying out the court’s orders.
“Again, please be aware that our coming here after two years is to occupy our office, having obtained judgments at both the lower court and the Appeal Court, but they refused to obey court orders after waiting for about two years. We decided to resume at the office today without causing any violence, and here we are,” Baruwa said.
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