By Victor Ahiuma-Young
NATIONAL Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has placed embargo on fuel supplies to Akwa Ibom State, over the alleged killing of its member, Mr. Micheal Idorenyin, by hoodlums from the host community to Septa Energy Nigeria Limited and its contractors with, whom the union has dispute over unionisation
NUPENG lamented that the late Mr. Idorenyin was murdered on November 9, at Uyo, where he took  union officials to the Federal Ministry of Labour-convened  meeting over the unionsation dispute.

President of NUPENG, Mr Achese Igwe, told journalists, yesterday, that of most concern to the union was that among  the vehicles that brought the thugs to the Federal Ministry of Labour was one belonging to the Personal Assistant to the Governor’s Chief Detail Staff (SSS).

He said the union stopped products supplies to the state a week ago and demanded that besides the state government fishing out the perpetrators of the heinous crime, the family of late Idorenyin must be fully compensated. He called  on the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the host community liaison officers, (CLOs) and their thugs allegedly acting on behalf of Septa Energy Limited and their labour contractors, were apprehended and prosecuted for murder.

Although, Igwe said efforts were being made by the state government to resolve the issues, he vowed that the union would not want the matter swept under the carpet.

“The union condemns the murder of a driver, late Mr. Michael Idorenyin, who took the officials to Uyo Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State,” he said.

Following the union’s complaint of victimization of its members by the management of Septa Energy and its contractors, the Federal Ministry of Labour convened a meeting at Uyo on 9th November, 2010 to resolve the issue of victimization.

Unfortunately, this meeting was hijacked by the host community liaison officers who brought thugs to attack the union executives and in the process, the driver (Mr. Michel Usen Idorenyin) who drove the union officials to the venue of the meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour, Uyo was killed.

Of particular concern to us, is that among the vehicles that brought the thugs to the Federal Ministry of Labour was a vehicle belonging to the Personal Assistant to Governor’s Chief detail Staff (SSS).”