Two persons including Edo State Chairman of the BEDC Electricity Plc, Uwumarogie Owenaze William, have been injured in a clash between officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress and NUEE officials.

A viral video showed Uwumarogie running but was cleared to the ground and given several slaps on Thursday night at the BEDC headquarters along Akpakpava road in Benin City.

Heavy security presence was seen at the BEDC headquarters on Friday morning.

The presence of security personnel affected businesses at the busy axis of Akpakpava as some traders claimed they were not allowed into their shops.

Some locks placed on the entrance gate by the picketing NUEE officials were broken.

Officials of NUEE had continued the strike action in Edo State over leadership tussle in the Edo chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Management of the BEDC, in a statement, appealed to the Edo State Government and the NLC to urgently resolve their differences to allow it resume full operations and restore power supply to Edo State.

It said electricity was not restored to Edo State, due to an unresolved “peculiar issue” between the State NLC and the Edo State Government.

The BEDC noted that continued inability of both parties to reach a compromise has prevented the company from resuming official duties in Edo State, thereby denying citizens, businesses, schools, hospitals and other critical institutions access to electricity.

Speaking from his hospital bed, the Edo NUEE chairman said he was surprised that they were attacked while carrying out lawful picketing.

He said the attack occurred after many of their officials had left.

According to him, “We were under the canopy. We used to stay in front of the BEDC at about 7pm and some group of people would come. I discovered it was the Edo NLC.

“We didn’t know they brought security and one of them slapped me. I tried to run but was stopped and slapped.

“The other person that was beaten is in the hospital. The strike in Edo continues because an agreement was reached between the BEDC, the union, and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. Edo is to remain under lock and key based on the challenge on ground. And that is what we are acting on.”

He insisted that no worker would go and work if the entrance gate were forced open. (The Nation)