Private security guards attached to the National Petroleum Cooperation and who protect oil pipelines from Lokoja to Kaduna, on Thursday staged a peaceful protest against the non-payment of 22 months’ salary arrears.

The protesting workers blocked the entrance to the NNPC Depot at Awawa, Abaji Area Council, FCT and denied members of staff, petrol tankers and visitors entry.

The security guards, who are employees of MRS Limited, carried placards bearing inscriptions such as: “Pay us our 22-months salaries, “We are not slaves” and “We will block Abuja-Lokoja Road if we are not paid.”

The spokesman of the protesting workers, Abdullahi Kaja, lamented that when they were working directly under the NNPC, they were paid as and when due and received other benefits until MRS Limited took over.

He urged the government to intervene in order to resolve the dispute and forestall any breakdown of law and other.