PTD Alleges Plot by NUPENG Leadership to Harass, Arrest Officers; Alerts IGP and DSS

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG has formally appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to restrain the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) from allegedly using state security apparatus to persecute PTD National Officers. 

The PTD, led by the Concerned PTD Elders League, accused NUPENG's President, General Secretary, and National Trustee of plotting to harass and illegally arrest members who support the rival Comrade Lucky Osesua-led PTD leadership

These assertions were contained in a statement jointly signed on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, by Comrades Kolapo Muse-Showunmi, Khalid Adamu, Christopher Owheyre, and Kingsley Amadi.

The PTD decried the alleged ploy by NUPENG to set up a "vicious muzzling of constitutionally guaranteed free speech" and the right to opinion within the Union. They urged security agencies to distance themselves from the trade union dispute, warning that any affinity with NUPENG could damage their reputation, especially since the internal crisis is already before courts of competent jurisdiction.

"The continuous harassment, intimidation and arrest of NUPENG National elected officers and a fresh attempt to arrest PTD leaders should be stopped forthwith by relevant authorities," the statement read.

The Elders League condemned the "humiliating arrest, detention and trial" of perceived opponents as an abuse of power and a gross violation of rights. They demanded the immediate release of detained members and called for a thorough investigation into their arrests.

The PTD detailed several alleged instances of persecution against opposition figures:

Cogent Ojobor (former NUPENG National PRO) was allegedly arrested and remanded for nearly a month for revealing his illegal expulsion on social media.

Samuel Mina (unlawfully suspended Chairman of Port Harcourt Zone of NUPENG) was reportedly arrested at his residence.

Comrade Queen Udeh (NUPENG National Treasurer-National Women Committee) has publicly cried out about a plan to arrest her and keep her "out of circulation."

The PTD asserted that almost all members who have openly expressed opposition or displayed ambitions for union office are now facing one "trumped-up charge or the other."

Furthermore, the PTD highlighted that the NUPENG President and General Secretary had already testified in the FCT High Court, admitting that Comrade Lucky Osesua and his co-defendants "ARE MEMBERS OF THE UNION," even as they continue to refer to them as "ex-convicts" in public statements.

The PTD concluded by appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, civil society organizations, and organized labour to intervene to prevent the current NUPENG leadership from "completely ruin[ing] our Union before their final exit" in April 2026.