A potential violent clash was on Monday averted at the headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Garki II, Abuja, following swift intervention by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
The police also dismissed viral claims alleging that its personnel shot at union members during the incident, describing the reports as false and misleading.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the Command received a distress call at about 7:00 a.m. reporting that a large group of individuals, numbering about 300 and armed with cutlasses, bottles, bows and arrows, had invaded the NURTW secretariat located along Sapele Street.
The statement explained that the group was allegedly attempting to enforce a court order without the presence of authorised court officials, including sheriffs, an action that escalated tensions at the premises.
“The situation degenerated into a physical confrontation when other members of the union resisted the move,” the statement said.
Police operatives, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Isyaku Sharu, were immediately deployed to the scene, where they brought the situation under control.
During the clash, one individual sustained severe machete injuries to the neck and was promptly rescued by the police. Several others who suffered varying degrees of injuries were also taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The Command confirmed the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the incident. They include Sulaiman A. Musa, Nasiru Ibrahim, Alhaji Sadisu Musa, Dalha Suleiman, Abdullahi Garba, Saheed Fojebi, and Ibikunle T. Baruwa.
Police authorities disclosed that the suspects have been charged before Magistrate Court 1 in Wuse Zone 2, while normalcy has since been restored to the area.
Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining law and order, the FCT Police Command urged residents to remain law-abiding and support security agencies with credible information.
The Command also advised members of the public to disregard the circulating videos and unverified claims, stressing that no police officer discharged firearms during the operation.
