TWO persons are believed to have died following a clash between two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Sapele Crescent, off Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Garki II, Abuja.
The clash which occured on Tuesday evening is said to be between the supporters of the NURTW President, Tajudeen Baruwa, and the Lagos Park Management Committee led faction of Tajudeen Agbede.
Baruwa supporters moved on the union’s national headquarters which is currently being occupied by the Agbede led faction, from whence both engaged themselves in a violent clash.
Both factions have long been at loggerheads, with Baruwa claiming to have approached both the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Labour Congress for resolution of the dispute to no avail.
“We shall henceforth not hesitate to defend our mandate with the last drop of our blood,” Baruwa stated.
The President also accused former leaders of the NURTW of occupying the Union’s National Secretariat illegally.
Baruwa swore that only a competent law court to which the crisis is under its jurisdiction can revoke his leadership of the Union.
The Union’s ex president, Najeem Yasin, and its ex National Vice President, Agbede, have also come under fire from Baruwa for allegedly organizing illegal meetings with a select number of the Union’s ex Presidents in attendance.
Baruwa also accused the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, and Director General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, of siding with the Lagos Park Management Committee on the crisis.
AfriqueCan is still yet to confirm the exact number of fatalities resulting from the clash in which gunshots were fired repeatedly.
The FCT Police Command is yet to speak officially on the tension.
The Force Headquarters has also not commented on the crisis.