2 Arrested NUEE Members Regain Freedom

The two members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) who were arrested by the police and State Security Services (SSS) at the national secretariat of the union in Lagos have regained their freedom.

National Women Leader of NUEE, Comrade Doris Nnaji disclosed this to The Tide in a telephone interview yesterday.

Comrade Nnaji said the two members, Comrade I. O. Babatunde, Assistant General Secretary (Admin) and Comrade Emena Christopher, Personal Assistant to the General Secretary of the union were arrested  last Thursday at the national secretariat  because of the ongoing controversial privatisation of The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) by the Federal Government.

The national women leader disclosed that the two members were released Friday night.

It would be recalled that the National Union of Electricity Employees issued a 24 -hour ultimatum to the Police and State Security Services Friday to release the arrested members failure to which, the union would down tools.

In an advertorial carried in The Tide of Friday, and signed by Rivers/Bayelsa states council chairmen, Comrade Temple Banigo (JP) Comrade I. C. Briggs, Treasurer Rivers/Bayelsa State Council and the national women leader, Comrade Doris Nnaji, the union had condemned the arrested describing it as uncivilized and unwarranted.

“Under a democratic system as we operate, it is uncivilized and embarrassing that people performing their legitimate duties should be arrested even when they did not commit any crime,” the union stated.

“We appeal to the Federal Government and well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the security operatives to immediately release our arrested members to avert the reaction of the union which inadvertently will affect common and innocent Nigerians,” NUEE said.

With the release, the fear of blackout which NUEE promised in its threat to Nigerians have been addressed.

Comrade Nnaji commended the Federal Government and other well-meaning Nigerians who in any way contributed to the timely release of the innocent members of the union.