The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has accused suspected thugs linked to the Benue State Government of abducting and torturing workers of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) Plc following the disconnection of electricity provide to the Government House in Makurdi.
The union made the allegation in a press assertion seen by Nairametrics and signed by its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, following the incident reportedly carried out on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
The newest allegation comes barely a month after workers of the identical electricity distribution firm (DisCo) had been allegedly assaulted by Nigerian Air Force personnel in Bauchi State on September 18, elevating renewed issues over the security of electricity workers performing their duties.
NUEE alleges abduction and torture
According to NUEE, suspected thugs armed with weapons and machetes invaded JED’s district workplace in Makurdi, claiming that the disconnection had embarrassed their principal, who had just lately returned from a international journey.
- ” The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) condemns completely the invasion of the Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) Plc Benue State Makurdi workplace by thugs from Benue State Government home over the disconnection of the Government home,” the assertion reads partially.
The union alleged that the attackers accused the workers of performing on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
- “They carried out this brutal and barbaric action against innocent workers because the Government House was disconnected due to the discovery of meter bypass by government house officials.”
NUEE additional alleged that the attackers kidnapped JED’s Benue State Operating Officer, Samson Abah, alongside different staff, and took them to the River Benue bridge, the place they had been assaulted.
The union claimed that the attackers confiscated the workers’ telephones and private belongings, demanded cash for his or her launch and compelled them to revive electricity to the Government House by a transformer it described as illegally put in.
- “We vehemently reject this continuous threat to the lives of Electricity Workers across the Country and provocation by customers especially from government institutions.”
The union demanded medical remedy for the affected staff, alternative of their stolen belongings, an apology from the Benue State Governor and motion towards these accountable.
It additionally warned that members may steer clear of the affected workplace indefinitely except JED administration offered ample assurances regarding their security.
The allegations towards people linked to the Benue State Government haven’t been independently established.
JED workers confronted earlier assault allegations
The newest growth follows an analogous confrontation involving JED workers and Nigerian Air Force personnel in Bauchi State on September 18, 2026.
- JED had alleged that navy personnel invaded its Bauchi workplace, assaulted staff and forcibly restored electricity to Air Force residential quarters after they had been disconnected over unpaid payments.
The distribution firm mentioned the affected amenities owed roughly N196.7 million, with the disconnection carried out on September 14 following extended non-payment.
Disputes involving government establishments and electricity distributors have additionally occurred elsewhere in Nigeria.
- In August 2024, Nairametrics reported that Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company disconnected electricity provide to the Kaduna State Government House and different public amenities over excellent payments amounting to N2.9 billion.
The firm mentioned the choice adopted unsuccessful efforts to get better the debt by negotiations with the state government.
Meanwhile, the most recent dispute comes as electricity shoppers in elements of Lagos and Abuja face provide disruptions.
On October 19, Ikeja Electric attributed diminished electricity provide throughout its community to insufficient energy allocation from the nationwide grid, whereas Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) reported technical faults affecting a number of communities within the Federal Capital Territory.
DisCos battle with income restoration
Beyond disputes over disconnections, Nigeria’s electricity distribution corporations proceed to battle with income restoration and billing inefficiencies.
- According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), DisCos recovered N205.53 billion from the N250.79 billion charged to clients in July 2026, leaving N45.26 billion excellent.
This represented a set effectivity of 81.95%, highlighting the business’s persevering with issue in recovering funds for electricity equipped.
For all the 2025 monetary yr, distribution corporations had been unable to get better N669.49 billion in electricity prices already billed to clients, based on NERC’s annual business report.
The persistent gaps between electricity equipped, quantities billed and funds collected proceed to weaken the monetary place of DisCos and their capability to satisfy obligations throughout Nigeria’s electricity worth chain.
