The management of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED Plc) has alleged that about 50 youths invaded its headquarters along Otukpo Road in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Wednesday, assaulting staff members, abducting 10 personnel and taking away four operational vehicles.

The company said the youths were allegedly linked to the state government and were angered by operational concerns over an illegal electricity connection at Government House in Makurdi.

Confirming the incident in a statement issued on Thursday, the JED Plc Public Relations Officer, Mrs Saratu Dauda, said the group invaded the company’s headquarters, assaulted and molested staff members, and abducted 10 personnel.

Dauda said the incident was connected to operational and administrative concerns involving the alleged illegal connection of Government House to a refurbished 2MVA 33/11kV transformer supplying the State House of Assembly and Government House.

The statement read in part: “The unfortunate incident occurred at approximately 1:17 p.m., when a group of about 50 persons forcefully gained access to the office and confronted the JED Plc state management team over operational and administrative concerns.

“These included the illegal connection of the Government House to a refurbished 2MVA 33/11kV transformer supplying the State House of Assembly and the Government House.

“During the incident, the youths forced their way into the office, assaulted and molested our members of staff and further abducted 10 personnel, took away four vehicles and various technical working tools.”

Dauda said the abducted staff members and the properties were released at about 5:45 p.m. following the forced reconnection of the transformer.

“Unfortunately, the incident also resulted in serious injuries to several other members of staff,” she added.

Dauda recalled that a similar incident occurred on September 3, 2026, when a team of JED Plc staff conducting a routine check was held hostage at Government House following the detection of a meter bypass on the premises.

“The staff members were forced to reconnect the bypassed meter before being released from the facility. This issue has been lingering and remains unresolved despite several communication efforts with officials of the state government,” the PRO said.

She said the incident had been reported to the relevant security agencies, adding that the company would continue to cooperate with them to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and prevent a recurrence.

The management said the company recognised the importance of addressing stakeholders’ concerns and maintaining cordial relationships with government institutions and host communities. It also expressed the belief that such matters were best resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding.

Dauda said the company had established institutional procedures for addressing such concerns.

She reiterated that technical interventions, including the energisation of transformers and the handling of metering irregularities, must comply with applicable regulatory requirements and safety standards.

“JED Plc remains committed to constructive engagement with the Benue State Government and other relevant stakeholders to address concerns amicably and in the overall interest of electricity consumers and the people of Benue State,” the statement read.

However, the Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, has described JED Plc’s allegations as baseless, claiming that the company could not identify any of the alleged attackers.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Iorpev said issues relating to transformer energisation and metering irregularities were regulatory matters that should be addressed through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and, where necessary, the courts.

“They must be addressed before the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and, where necessary, the courts—not through inflammatory press releases.

“Assertions of abduction, assault and injuries remain unsubstantiated. The government does not condone violence and demands that impartial, evidence-based and transparent investigations be carried out by security operatives,” the commissioner said.

Iorpev urged the company to allow the investigation to be concluded before issuing statements, arguing that its claims risked tarnishing the image of the state government.

He added that JED Plc had failed to produce records of its alleged “several communications” with the government, challenging the company to publish the correspondence if it existed.

“JED Plc itself acknowledges that interventions must comply with regulatory requirements and safety standards. The government insists that this standard binds JED Plc as firmly as it binds any customer, including public institutions,” the statement read.

Iorpev warned the company against politicising its operations or maligning the integrity of the state, adding that the government remained committed to the rule of law, the protection of lives and property, and constructive engagement with stakeholders in the electricity sector. (Nigerian Tribune)