JED, Benue Government Clash Over Alleged Attack on Electricity Company’s Staff

By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED) and the Benue State Government have traded accusations following an alleged attack on the electricity company’s staff and invasion of its state office in Makurdi.

While JED accused a group of suspected youths of assaulting its employees and disrupting operations, the Benue State Government denied any involvement, describing the allegations as unfounded and demanding a retraction and formal apology.

The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the JED office in Makurdi.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 22, JED said about 50 people allegedly forced their way into the office at approximately 1:17 p.m. and confronted its state management team over operational and administrative issues relating to electricity supply to the Government House and the State House of Assembly.

According to the company, the dispute centred on the alleged illegal connection of the Government House to a refurbished 2MVA, 33/11kV transformer supplying electricity to the two government facilities.

JED alleged that the group assaulted and harassed its staff, took 10 personnel away against their will, seized four vehicles and removed various technical tools from the premises.

The company said the affected personnel and properties were released at about 5:45 p.m., following the reconnection of the transformer. It added that several other employees sustained injuries during the incident.

JED said the matter had been reported to the relevant security agencies, adding that it would cooperate with investigators to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and prevent a recurrence.

The electricity distribution company also cited an earlier incident on September 3, 2026, when it alleged that some of its employees were held at the Government House after detecting a meter bypass during a routine inspection.

According to JED, the employees were allegedly compelled to reconnect the bypassed meter before they were allowed to leave the premises.

The company said the dispute had remained unresolved despite what it described as several attempts to communicate with officials of the Benue State Government.

JED maintained that disputes involving transformer energisation, metering irregularities and electricity connections should be resolved through established regulatory procedures, safety standards and constructive engagement.

“While the Company recognises the importance of addressing stakeholders’ concerns and maintaining cordial relationships with government institutions and host communities, it firmly believes that such matters are best resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding,” the statement said.

The company reiterated its commitment to engaging the state government and other stakeholders to resolve the dispute in the interest of electricity consumers.

The incident was followed by a reported disruption of electricity supply across Benue State, with JED cutting power supply in protest over the alleged attack.

Benue Government Demands Retraction, Apology

However, the Benue State Government has strongly rejected JED’s allegations, insisting that the company has not provided credible evidence linking the government to the incident.

The Commissioner for Information, Solomon Iorpev, stated this in a statement on Thursday, describing the allegations contained in JED’s October 22 statement as reckless, unfounded and unacceptable.

The government said JED’s use of the word “allegedly” demonstrated that the company had not established any direct link between the state government and the reported incident.

It challenged the electricity distribution company to provide credible evidence, including names, identities and other verifiable details, to support its claims.

On the dispute over transformer energisation and alleged metering irregularities, the government said such matters should be addressed through the appropriate regulatory channels, including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and, where necessary, the courts.

The state government also questioned JED’s claims of abduction, assault and injuries, calling on security agencies to conduct an impartial, transparent and evidence-based investigation.

It said the government did not condone violence and criticised JED for making serious allegations before the conclusion of investigations.

The government further disputed the electricity company’s account of the September 3 incident, describing its reference to the episode as misleading.

It challenged JED to publish documentary evidence of the alleged communications with government officials over the dispute.

Government Issues Warning to JED

The Benue State Government warned JED against making allegations it considers damaging to the state’s reputation and demanded three actions from the company.

These include the immediate withdrawal of any insinuation that the state government sanctioned violence, a retraction of the allegations relating to meter bypassing and illegal electricity connections, and a formal apology to the government and the people of Benue State.

The government said it remained committed to the rule of law, the protection of lives and property, and constructive engagement with stakeholders in the electricity sector.

It, however, warned that it would consider legal action if JED continued to publish what it described as false allegations.

The government also stressed that electricity distribution companies and public institutions must comply with applicable regulatory requirements and safety standards.

It said residents deserved reliable electricity supply, accountability and respectful treatment, rather than public accusations.

As of the time of this report, the two parties had presented conflicting accounts of the incident, while the allegations of violence and the circumstances surrounding the electricity dispute remained matters requiring independent investigation.