Police arrest PHCN staff over privatisation protest

L-R, Peter Adeoye, zonal organiser, Kayode Giwa,national officer, Adegbenro Adesanya, state chairman.

Twenty staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria {PHCN} were yesterday arrested by the Ogun State Police Command over their roles in a protest against the federal government’s proposed privatisation of the company.

The workers, who were members of the National Union of Electricity Employees {NUEE}, were arrested at the premises of their secretariat located beside the PHCN Headquarters on Moshood Abiola Way, Abeokuta.

It was reliably gathered that the workers, who had earlier addressed a press conference along with their placard-carrying protest, did not know that policemen had laid siege for them. After journalists left, the policemen swooped on them.

The police, who came in a bus, bundled the workers inside and took them to the Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further interrogations.

“They must have been hiding somewhere, because what we saw was that they came in a bus, and before we knew what was happening, they rounded up our men, arresting about twenty of our members and drove away to the station,” Peter Adeoye, the union’s zonal organiser said.

Working for their release

On hearing of the arrest, the national president of Radio, Television, and Theater Workers Union {RATTAWU}, Yemisi Bamgbose, had to race to the police headquarters over the development.

Mr. Bamgbose said at press time that the arrested people were still making statement at the headquarters, expressing optimism that things would be sorted out.

The spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, however, said the men were not detained, “but only invited by the commissioner of police to let them know that what they have done is wrong. They will be released to management of PHCN later.”

Mr. Adejobi explained that the police commissioner had earlier advised the workers not to embark on the protest, which the workers allegedly assured him they won’t do.

“Police picked them up for their failure to honour their pledge. They would not be treated like criminals. They would be asked to make a statement. Their action is not wise, considering the security implications. What about if hoodlums take advantage of their protest?” He said.

Source:234next