FCT police kick as NLC gives officers ultimatum to vacate NURTW headquarters

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has said it deployed personnel to the headquarters and national secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, to avert bloodletting following the leadership crisis rocking the union.

Newsmen reports that factional groups in the NURTW led by Tajudeen Baruwa and Basiru Agbede had clashed over the move to sack elected leaders.

The development stimulated the decision of the police command to deploy officers to the area in a bid to quell the fight and avert breakdown of law and order.

But the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Monday condemned the occupation of the facility by alleged thugs and police officers.

The union, in a communiqué issued after its Emergency National Administrative Council meeting in Abuja, kicked against the involvement of the Nigeria Police in the invasion of the facility, alleging a foul play by the police.

The union gave the Nigeria Police 48 hours to leave the NURTW National Secretariat, stressing that it would embark on strike if the Federal Government failed to intervene and reinstate the elected leaders.

Responding to the NLC ultimatum, the FCT police in a statement issued on Tuesday night by its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh insisted that the command was only carrying out its duty by deploying personnel to the area to ensure the safety and security of citizens.

The statement reads partly, “The primary duty of the police is to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, and this includes preventing the breakdown of law and order.

“In situations where there are concerns about potential violence, unrest, or disputes that may escalate into violence, the police are obligated to take preventive measures to protect lives and property.

“The deployment of police personnel to the NURTW secretariat is not an act of interference in the internal affairs of the Union.

“Rather, it is a proactive step to forestall any potential violence or illegal actions that could arise from disputes within the Union.

“The Police will not fold its hands and allow the leadership feud between the two groups to degenerate into a breakdown of law and order. Also, it is the Force’s constitutional responsibility to maintain law and order.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Haruna Garba, appreciates the misgivings raised by the NLC and hereby assures that the personnel deployed have been tasked to be professional while carrying out their duty by upholding the principles of human rights and neutrality.”