GUNSHOTS, CHAOS AS LAGOS ‘AGBEROS’ TOOK OVER ABUJA NURTW OFFICE

Gunshots, chaos as Lagos ‘Agberos’ took over Abuja NURTW office

Abuja, the nation’s capital, witnessed violent clash and chaos on Tuesday when two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) clashed on Sapele Crescent, off Ladoke Akintola Boulevard in Garki II.
It was reported that guns and other dangerous weapons were free used during the conflict, thereby heightening serious tension in the area.

The latest conflict underlines an ongoing dispute within the NURTW, a development which observers say the federal government should intervene as a matter of urgency to prevent further breakdown of law and order, in Abuja, the nation’s capital city.

The clash broke out when supporters of the NURTW President, Tajudeen Baruwa, marched towards the union’s national headquarters, which is currently occupied by the Lagos Park Management Committee led by Tajudeen Agbede.

According to report reaching RPTVBLOG, a faction of the union led by one Tajudeen Agbede allegedly mobilised thugs from Lagos State and stormed the secretariat of the union and reportedly attacked the National officers including the President after which they forcefully took over the office.

The incident occurred under the watch of armed policemen and operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) deployed to maintain law and order.

It was also reported that Baruwa had earlier revealed that he sought the intervention of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Labour Congress to resolve the situation, without success.

“We shall henceforth not hesitate to defend our mandate with the last drop of our blood,” Baruwa had earlier vowed while accusing former NURTW leaders of illegally occupying the National Secretariat of the union.

He stressed that only a court of competent jurisdiction can invalidate his mandate, and encouraged aggrieved members to follow due process and seek legal redress, warning that anything short of this could lead to anarchy.

He further accused the former president of the union, Najeem Yasin, and Agbede, the former National Vice President, of holding illegal meetings with selected past leaders of the union.

While calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, and Director General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, to intervene in the matter, he alleged that the police seem to be working in favour of the Lagos Park Management Committee.

The Force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi could not respond to enquiries by our correspondent as at the time of filing this report.