Police foil clash at NURTW Office, dismiss shooting claims

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has dismissed claims circulating on social media that its operatives opened fire on members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), describing the reports as false and misleading.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Command said the incident occurred in the Garki II area of Abuja, where a potential violent confrontation at the NURTW national headquarters was successfully contained by police intervention.

According to a statement signed by Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer, the Command received a distress call at about 7:00 a.m. on March 23, 2026, reporting that a large group of about 300 individuals had stormed the union’s premises on Sapele Street.

The group was reportedly armed with cutlasses, bottles, bows, and arrows, and had begun removing items from the facility.

Responding swiftly, Isyaku Sharu, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, led a team of officers to the scene.

“Preliminary findings indicated that the group was attempting to enforce a court order without the presence of authorised court officials, including sheriffs”, it said.

Police said the situation escalated into violence when other NURTW members resisted the action, resulting in a clash.

One individual sustained severe machete injuries to the neck and was rescued by officers, while several others suffered varying degrees of injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

“Seven suspects were arrested at the scene in connection with the incident. They have since been arraigned before Magistrate Court 1 in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja”, the statement said.

Authorities confirmed that normalcy has been restored to the area, with security operatives maintaining surveillance to prevent further disturbances.

The Command reiterated its commitment to maintaining law and order across the Federal Capital Territory and urged residents to disregard misinformation.

It also called on members of the public to support security efforts by providing timely information through its emergency lines.