The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has given stern warning to Governor Nasir El-Rufai to desist from plans to hurt labour leaders due to the ongoing strike in Kaduna State.

Organised labour began five-day warning strike in Kaduna to push against the mass sack of workers by the Nasir El-Rufai government shutting down the economy of the state including essential services such as electricity, railway and banks.

Mr El-Rufai has however remained unfazed over the demonstrations, saying it won’t change his government’s position on the matter and even declaring NLC President Ayuba Wabba and other labour leaders wanted for alleged sabotage.

Armed thugs allegedly sponsored by the government attacked a procession of the protesting workers on Tuesday. It took the intervention of the police to ward off the attackers.

NUPENG in a statement signed by the National President Williams Akporeha threatened to shutdown all services in all sectors of the oil and gas industry if any harm is inflicted on any of the members of the organised labour.

The union advised the federal government to call “power drunk” Mr El-Rufai to order.

“The Leadership of the Union is therefore calling on the Federal Government to immediately call on Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to order before his arrogance and power drunk ego further push the situation into horrendous calamity as he has been doing in all issues relating to human lives and wellbeing,” said NUPENG in the statement.

It added, “Consequently, the Union reiterates that no Labour Leaders or workers as the case may be, be harmed, harassed, maimed, humiliated or victimised during this 5-day peaceful protests in the state.

“Our Union is raising this alarm following the very reliable report of the clandestine move of Governor Nasir El-Rufai to hurt and put the lives of NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and other Labour Leaders to danger in his usual blind egotistical style of running government on the state.”

Earlier, Mr El-Rufai placed a bounty on Mr Wabba’s head, promising to handsomely reward individuals with useful information on the whereabouts of the NLC boss and other leaders of the union, via his official Twitter handle.

“Ayuba Wabba & others of @NLCHeadquarters declared wanted for economic sabotage & attacks on public infrastructure under Miscellaneous Offences Act.

“Anyone that knows where he is hiding should send a message to @MOJKaduna. KDSG. There will be a handsome reward!” Mr El-Rufai wrote.