The National Union of Electricity Employees on Friday threatened to extend its ongoing industrial action in Edo State into a nationwide strike over the brutalisation of its Edo State chairman, William Uwumarogie, and another member, Matthew Eromobor, by security operatives in Benin City.
The union said it had given the security personnel 24 hours to return the seized phones and other personal belongings of the two members.
It also called for the withdrawal of security personnel from the headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, warning that failure to comply would trigger a nationwide industrial action.
Uwumarogie and Eromobor were reportedly arrested on Thursday night while union members were keeping vigil at the BEDC headquarters on Akpakpava Road, Benin City, as part of their protest over poor remuneration, inadequate safety measures and unfavourable working conditions.
The industrial action, which began on Monday, initially plunged Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states, which are covered by BEDC, into darkness.
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 strike in the three other states, leaving Edo as the only state still affected.
Addressing journalists on Friday, the NUEE Vice-President, West, David Ehigiamusoe, who spoke on behalf of the union’s zonal leadership, condemned the alleged attack on the two members and warned that the dispute could spread beyond Edo State.
Ehigiamusoe said the union was concerned about what he described as the forceful arrest and brutalisation of its members by a combined team of military and police personnel.
“The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) is disturbed and worried about the Gestapo-style abduction, brutalisation and arrest of the Edo State chairman of NUEE, Comrade William Uwumarogie, and Comrade Matthew Eromobor at about between 7.20 pm and 8.00 pm on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
“While our members were mounting guard at the BEDC head office, Akpakpava Road, Benin City, in continuation of the legitimate industrial action against BEDC management over unresolved labour issues, a team of military personnel arrived in a Toyota Hiace bus and a Hilux, fully armed, and invaded the BEDC headquarters.
“The team, comprising mobile policemen, regular police officers and Nigerian Army personnel, forcefully attacked, brutalised, arrested and whisked them away to an unknown destination. Their phones and personal belongings were confiscated by the security personnel, and they were treated like armed robbers,” he said.
He disclosed that the two union members were released in the early hours of Friday but remained in hospital receiving medical attention following the alleged assault.
“They were released on Friday, October 23, 2026, around 1.00 am after severe brutalisation. They are still undergoing medical treatment at the hospital.
“Furthermore, we woke up to see that a combined team of military and police officers had taken over the premises of the BEDC head office, Akpakpava, Benin City, armed to the teeth as if they were going to war.
“This is a clear violation of the conciliatory resolution reached at the meeting with the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment in Abuja, that no worker should be victimised,” he said.
The union also urged its members working with BEDC in Edo State to remain committed to the industrial action until their grievances were addressed.
It warned that failure to meet its demands within the stipulated period would leave it with no alternative but to extend the strike nationwide.
“If, after this notice, their personal belongings are not returned and military personnel at BEDC are not withdrawn, we will have no option but to escalate the industrial action nationwide.
“The Edo State Government and BEDC should be held responsible for any breakdown of industrial peace arising from this provocation. This is not a threat,” the union said.