The management of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc has condemned the attack on its staff and the alleged abduction of 10 personnel by youths who invaded its Benue State office in Makurdi on Wednesday.
The company also alleged that the youths assaulted and molested staff members, took away four vehicles and technical tools, and released the abducted personnel after the forceful reconnection of a transformer.
The company’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Saratu Dauda, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday and made available to our correspondent.
According to the statement, about 50 youths invaded the company’s state office along Otukpo Road at approximately 1:17 pm over operational and administrative concerns, including the alleged 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. They also took away four vehicles and various technical working tools,” the statement read.
Dauda said the abducted staff members and the company’s properties were released at about 5:45 pm following the forceful reconnection of the transformer.
She added that several other members of staff sustained serious injuries during the incident.
The company recalled a similar incident on September 3, 2026, when a team of its staff conducting a routine inspection was allegedly held hostage at the Government House after detecting a meter bypass on the premises.
According to Dauda, the staff members were forced to reconnect the bypassed meter before they were released.
She said the issue had remained unresolved despite several attempts by the company to communicate with officials of the Benue State Government.
Dauda said the incident had been reported to the relevant security agencies, adding that the company would cooperate with them to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and prevent a recurrence.
While acknowledging the importance of addressing stakeholders’ concerns and maintaining cordial relationships with government institutions and host communities, she said such matters should be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding.
She also stressed that technical interventions, including transformer energisation 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 added.
When contacted, the Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, said he would issue a statement on the incident but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
“Yes, I will soon issue a statement to that effect,” he said.
Also contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Peter Aondongu, said he was on official duty outside the state capital.
He, however, promised to get back to our correspondent after receiving a report from the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area.