The NURTW President, Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, has stated that the union is not in support of the unrest that resulted in the deaths of people, and that the body has also disassociated itself from any act that promotes the spilling of blood and the paralysis of businesses, as seen in Lagos a few days ago.
According to reports and viral recordings in the public domain, an undisclosed number of lives were lost during this heinous crime, and Baruwa stated that the union will not rest until the perpetrators of these atrocities are apprehended.
The statement read: “In ensuring that appropriate actions are been taken to end such conduct going forward, the union will be working with the Lagos State Government, security agencies, and other stakeholders to investigate as well as go after persons or groups that are behind this re-occurring barbaric display that led to the loss of lives and several properties in the community.
“The NURTW has followed this incident that brought Lagos Island to a chaotic situation, posing danger to life and properties and grounding business activities in the area. We hereby assure Lagosians, as the national body of NURTW, that something will be done to end such conduct. We cannot continue this way, putting a bad image on the entirety of the Union, this is unacceptable.
“The union is tendering its unreserved apology to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, entire Lagosians over inconvenience the ugly incident may have caused the state, its law-abiding people, businesses that suffered the unrest, most.”
Baruwa added, “We commend the state government on the quick intervention that brought calm to the community and the body is assuring the government that all erring members who took to violence instead of peace will not go unpunished.”
He, however, threatened to indefinitely suspend the activities of the union in the state, to carry out investigation on the matter at hand, “We are using this medium to pass a strong message to the union’s members in Lagos at large, that state’s council executives and NURTW operations in the state entirely may be suspended indefinitely to allow investigation on the incident to be carried out diligently.
“However, consultations are ongoing with the state government, security agencies, and other stakeholders so as to reach an arrangement on next line of actions which would be determined by the outcome of the reached agreement,” the NURTW chairman continued.
He added, “The state’s council executives and entire members of the union should bear in mind that notice of further action will be communicated upon conclusion by the apex body of the union.
“We sympathize with the families of the people that lost their lives during the incident and pray to God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.”