Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have taken over the head office of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in Benin City, following the arrest of officials of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) after the union embarked on a strike
Recall that the NUEE embarked on a strike on October 19, 2026, over the non-implementation of the minimum wage, salary harmonisation and increments, stagnation in promotions, among other grievances
The strike resulted in a blackout across BEDC’s franchise states
Daily Trust learnt that the police stormed the BEDC headquarters late Thursday, where the union members had stationed themselves to press home their demands, and whisked them away
Our reporter, who visited the office located on Akpakpava Road on Thursday, observed more than 10 policemen and five vehicles stationed in the area, including a vehicle mounted with a submachine gun
Daily Trust also observed that the police had cordoned off the area, preventing residents from accessing the road leading to Forestry and Mission Road Market
Some motorists who attempted to use the road were reportedly turned back
One of the protesting workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the union members were at the gate of the head office monitoring the strike when security operatives stormed the area, assaulted the union officials and whisked them away
He lamented that the workers did not know the whereabouts of the arrested union officials
He also accused the BEDC management of orchestrating their arrest and using the police to harass and intimidate workers into abandoning the protest
He alleged that the management had been threatening to arrest the union officials, claiming they were behind the protest
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain a response from the police were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, had yet to respond to messages sent to her as of the time of filing this report
Also the Head of Branding and Corporate Communication of BEDC Electricity, Mrs Evelyn Gbiwen, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.