The President General of the National Association of Plants Operators (NAPO), Harold Benstowe has opened up on his ordeal in the hands of the Department of State Services (DSS), officially known as the State Security Service (SSS).
Benstowe spoke with Kristina Reports over the telephone on Thursday, February 9, 2026 from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, Bundu-Ama Community in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He narrated that he was chained on the legs with other officials of NAPO and whisked away from Finima Police Station in Finima, Bonny LGA by DSS operatives where he had gone to report incidences of assault on his members.
“After the NAC of NAPO decided that an industrial action against Saipem and Daewoo, who are contractors to NLNG, should hold on Friday, January 30, 2026, our taskforce mobilized to the venue of the protest only to be attacked by thugs hired by those who don’t want the protest to hold.”
“Upon getting the reports of the attacks, we proceeded to Finima Police Station to report the matter. Only for the DCO by name Kachi, and a DSS officer, Prince Elendu to chain me and my members, Tuwonimi Benstowe and on the legs and push us into a waiting vehicle and take us to their office in Port Harcourt.”
“On getting there, the forced us to sit on the floor and began threatening to kill us, accusing us of being terrorist. We told them we’re labour union officials and not terrorists. The later took us in to an overcrowded cell which more persons than it can take and detained us there for about seven days.”
When they brought us out for interrogation their legal officer, a lady came and shouting at us at the top of her voice, threatening to deal with us if we don’t cooperate with them. At some point, they took Tuwonimi to a different room and was coercing him to say incriminating things against me.”
“They promised to get him a job slot on Train 7 immediately and also offer him some huge amount of money if he cooperated with them. He turned down their evil offers.”
On a particular day I fainted and they brought a doctor to attend to me. I fainted because I refused to eat the food they were offering me due to the threats they had been making to kill me and my members.”
He stated that he was arrested because NAPO had invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe allegations of tax fraud related to the non-remittance of deducted taxes from workers on the Train 7 project.
The NAPO President General asserted that until the alleged tax fraud issue in properly investigated, the culprits apprehended an prosecuted, no amount of intimidation by the DSS, Police or security agency will scare NAPO from protecting the interest of its members.
Efforts by Kristina Reports to crosscheck the claims of the NAPO President General against the DSS and Police with the both agencies has, so far, proved abortive as they are yet to respond to enquiries sent to their advertised correspondence platforms.