DSS Whisks Away NAPO President, Two Others, As Lawyer demands whereabouts
“More than 24 hours after DSS arrested NAPO President General Harold Benstowe and two others in Rivers, their whereabouts remain unknown as lawyers allege contempt of court.”
More than 24 hours after operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) whisked away the President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Harold Benstowe, alongside two members, Tuwonimi Benstowe and Michael Mbata, their whereabouts remain unknown.
Counsel to NAPO, Marx Ikongbeh, said on Saturday, January 24, 2026, that the arrest and continued detention of the labour union leader and his members amounted to contempt of court, accusing the DSS of acting in defiance of a pending suit.
In a letter addressed to the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi, Ikongbeh demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detained men, urging him to call the agency’s Rivers State Command to order.
“The action, in light of the pending court case, is contemptuous of the authority of the court,” the lawyer said.
He pointed out that the DSS is already a party to an ongoing case at the National Industrial Court, Abuja — Suit No: NICN/ABJ/165/2024 — involving NAPO and the Minister of Labour and Employment.
According to Ikongbeh, the Rivers State Command of the DSS has denied having the union leaders in custody, despite their arrest being carried out in full view of the public and the media.
He further alleged that the detained men have been denied access to their families, lawyers, and medical care, describing the action as a gross violation of their constitutional rights.
“Lawyers from our chambers were denied access to our clients, while their families do not know their whereabouts, save for media reports of their arrest,” he said.
Ikongbeh warned that the continued detention of the workers’ leaders undermines labour rights and could damage ongoing efforts to improve the public image of the DSS.
Meanwhile, Kristina Reports witnessed the arrest at the Finima Police Station, Bonny Local Government Area, where the DSS operatives reportedly chained the suspects’ legs together before driving them to Port Harcourt in two Hilux vans.
As of the time of filing this report, the DSS was yet to issue an official statement on the incident, this is even as the group alleged that enquiries sent to its headquarters via email and WhatsApp were not responded to.
Here is a copy of the letter from the lawyer:
