By VICTOR YOUNG

United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC, has threatened to throw Rivers State into total blackout and fuel scarcity, among other threats, over the arrest, arraignment and detention of two Caverton Helicopters pilots and 10 oil workers by the state government.

Recall that Rivers State had, on Tuesday, arrested two pilots of Caverton Helicopters and the 10 passengers (oil workers) the airline brought to Rivers State – arraigned and detained till May 19, for allegedly breaching an executive order of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

ULC, in a statement by its President, Joe Ajaero, while condemning the arrest and incarceration of Nigerian workers discharging their lawful duties in Rivers State, demanded their immediate release by the Rivers State government to avoid confrontation with organised labour.

The statement read in part: “We condemn, in very strong terms, the arrest and incarceration of Nigerian workers discharging their lawful duties in Rivers State.

“That pilots and oil and gas workers despite, being on essential service and at the frontline of the nation’s battle against COVID-19 pandemic, would be languishing in jail at this time is most unfortunate and horrendous. If this does not negate and defeat this effort, nothing else would. (Vanguard)