ELECTRICITY WORKERS THREATEN NATIONWIDE STRIKE OVER BRUTALISATION OF MEMBERS IN EDO
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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened to extend its ongoing industrial action in Edo State to a nationwide strike over the alleged assault of its Edo State chairman, William Uwumarogie, and another member, Matthew Eromobor, by security operatives in Benin City.
The union on Friday gave the security personnel 24 hours to return the phones and other personal belongings allegedly seized from the two members. It also demanded the withdrawal of security operatives stationed at the headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, warning that failure to meet its demands would trigger a nationwide strike.
Uwumarogie and Eromobor were reportedly arrested on Thursday night while union members were keeping vigil at BEDC’s headquarters on Akpakpava Road, Benin City. The protest was part of the union’s industrial action over poor remuneration, inadequate safety measures and unfavourable working conditions.
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The strike, which commenced on Monday, initially disrupted electricity supply across Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states, all covered by BEDC.
However, following a meeting in Abuja reportedly mediated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammadu Dingyadi, the union was said to have suspended the industrial action in three of the affected states, leaving Edo as the only state where the strike remained ongoing.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, the NUEE Vice-President, West, David Ehigiamusoe, who represented the union’s zonal leadership, condemned the alleged attack on the two members and warned that the dispute could escalate beyond Edo State.
Ehigiamusoe expressed concern over what he described as the forceful arrest and brutalisation of the union members by a combined team of military and police personnel.
He said the incident occurred between 7.20 pm and 8.00 pm on Thursday, October 22, 2026, while members of the union were keeping watch at the BEDC headquarters in continuation of their industrial action over unresolved labour disputes with the company’s management.
According to him, armed security operatives arrived at the premises in a Toyota Hiace bus and a Hilux vehicle before allegedly attacking and arresting the two union leaders.
The team reportedly comprised mobile policemen, regular police officers and Nigerian Army personnel, who allegedly took the men to an undisclosed location and confiscated their phones and other personal belongings.
The union described the incident as an act of intimidation, alleging that its members were treated like armed robbers despite participating in a labour protest.
Ehigiamusoe disclosed that the two men were released at about 1 am on Friday, October 23, but were still receiving medical treatment in hospital following the alleged assault.
He also said the union was concerned that military and police personnel had taken over the BEDC headquarters, describing their presence as a violation of the resolution reached at the meeting with the labour minister in Abuja.
According to him, the meeting had agreed that no worker should be victimised in connection with the industrial dispute.
The union urged its members working with BEDC in Edo State to remain committed to the industrial action until their grievances were addressed.
It warned that unless the seized belongings were returned and security personnel withdrawn from the company’s headquarters within the stipulated 24-hour period, it would have no choice but to extend the strike nationwide.
NUEE further held the Edo State Government and BEDC responsible for any breakdown of industrial peace arising from the incident, insisting that the dispute could escalate if its demands were ignored.
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