The National Union of Electricity Employees, or NUEE, has denounced suspected security personnel for allegedly kidnapping and abusing its Edo State leader and another member.
According to the Furucinovel, the union’s West Zone Zonal Vise Chairman, Engr. On Friday, October 23, 2026, David Ehigiamuose delivered the denunciation during a news conference in Benin City.
According to Ehigiamuose, the states of Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Kwara, and Oyo make up the West Zone.
“Abduction, Brutalisation and Arrest of NUEE Edo State Chairman and Others” was the title of the press release.
He claimed that on Thursday, October 22, 2026, between 7:20 and 8:00 p.m., Comrade William Uwumarogie, the Edo State chairman of NUEE, and Comrade Mathew Eromobor were kidnaped, beaten, and taken into custody.
He said that the two were kidnaped while union members were on patrol at the Benin Electricity Distribution corporation’s (BEDC) headquarters on Akpakpava Road in Benin City, as part of their legal industrial action over unresolved concerns with the corporation.
In what he called a Gestapo-style operation, the West Zonal Vise Chairman claimed that a group of armed security guards arrived in a Toyota Hiace bus and a Hilux van, invaded the BEDC headquarters, and then kidnaped the union officials.
He claimed that the union was troubled and concerned by the alleged kidnapping, abuse, and detention of its Edo State chairman and Eromobor.
The group, which included normal police officers, mobile police officers, and members of the Nigerian Army, assaulted, mistreated, detained, and transported them to an unidentified location.
“The military personnel treated them like armed robbers and seized their phones and personal belongings.”
“This clearly violates the conciliatory resolution that no worker should be victimised, which was reached at the meeting with the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment in Abuja,” he declared.
However, according to Ehigiamuose, the two guys were freed at around 1:00 a.m. on Friday, October 23, following reported severe abuse.
He further mentioned that they were being treated in an unnamed hospital.
Ehigiamuose urged its members in Edo State to stay dedicated to the fight, but if the military personnel did not leave the BEDC headquarters after the briefing and the belongings were not returned, the union would be forced to escalate the industrial action nationwide.