- NURTW president warns of alleged protest plot at union secretariat in Garki 2 Abuja
- Union deputy president Isa Ore confirms police action without reason
Officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have detained Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, national president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
According to reports, Baruwa and three other union executives were detained at the NURTW national secretariat on Friday at around 5 o’clock when armed cops entered the area and ordered everyone inside to leave.
Almost two days had passed since the NURTW president had alerted authorities to an alleged conspiracy by some individuals and groups to hold a protest at the union’s national secretariat in Abuja’s Garki 2 district.
The deputy president of the union, Isa Ore, who confirmed the development, said no reason was given for the action by the Police.
Arrested alongside the NURTW President were the general secretary, Anthony Asogwa Chukudi; national trustee, Olayi Odion, and principal assistant secretary, Abdulrasak Yemi.
According to Ore, the arrested union members were being detained at the Wuse Zone 3 Police Division.
He said the incident occurred when the union was preparing for the inauguration and swearing-in of the newly elected members of the National Administrative Council of the Union.
He explained that the policemen arrived and ordered the staff to vacate and sealed off the premises.
“We were shocked to see the policemen in their number locking our secretariat without giving any reason.
“Today Saturday, we are preparing for the inauguration and swearing-in of the newly elected National Administrative Council members, but we just saw police and they asked us to leave the premises,” he said.
He added, “They said it was an order from the above, and they have detained our president and other leaders at Wuse Police Station.
“I have called the FCT Commissioner of Police but he said he was not in town.”