At least 1 person has died following a violent clash between two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Garki II, Abuja. Gunshots were reported during the conflict, which heightened the tension in the area.

The clash comes amid the escalating tension within the NURTW, a development that observers said requires urgent intervention to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

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

The source was quoted to have said: “As you may be aware, members of the Lagos Park Management Committee, led by Agbede, forcefully occupied the Secretariat a few weeks ago, displacing the president and other executives.

“Therefore, supporters of the current president mobilized themselves in an effort to forcibly remove Agbede and his group.

“However, they were met by a police blockade which resulted in a violent confrontation. Shots were fired, intensifying the gravity of the crisis.”

Before now, Baruwa had been seeking intervention from the Police and the Nigeria Labour Congress to resolve the situation, to no avail.

He also accused the former president of the union, Najeem Usman Yasin, and Agbede, the former National Vice President, of holding illegal meetings with selected past leaders of the union. Baruwa also alleged that the Police seem to favour the Lagos Park Management Committee.