On 22 October 2026, staff of the Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED) in Makurdi stopped delivering electricity after the [National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Union_of_Electricity_Employees) said several of its members had been assaulted by suspected gunmen, leaving the state capital without power.
The union reported that armed assailants broke into JED’s Makurdi district office, seized the Benue State Operating Officer, Mr. Samson Abah, along with an unspecified number of other employees, and forced them to the River Benue Bridge where they were allegedly beaten. The attackers also confiscated the workers’ mobile phones and personal items, demanded ransom for their release, and compelled them to reconnect electricity to the Benue State Government House.
Dominic Igwebike, acting national secretary of NUEE, explained in a statement that the incident followed the recent disconnection of power to the Government House after officials allegedly discovered a meter‑bypass scheme. He warned that the union could no longer guarantee the safety of its members if they continued to work under such conditions, stating, “Our members cannot continue to work under their brutalised, intimidation and threats to life until we are assured of the safety of our lives and properties.”
A JED employee, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed the shutdown, saying the union ordered staff to withdraw services after the alleged attack. “Our office was attacked and our union asked us to withdraw our services, so we have shut down power supply to Makurdi. We have left the office after shutting down, and Makurdi will not have power supply until the matter is resolved with our union,” he said.
The Benue State Government, through Commissioner for Information Chief Solomon Iorpev, categorically denied any involvement in violence, abduction, or illegal connections, describing the union’s claims as “baseless, defamatory and an attempt to tarnish its image.” The statement stressed that no concrete evidence had been presented and that JED’s use of the term “allegedly” underscored the lack of proof.
The government further argued that disputes over transformer energisation and alleged metering irregularities should be addressed through the [Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)](https://www.nerc.gov.ng) and, if necessary, the courts, not through sensational press releases. It warned JED against politicising the issue and demanded a retraction of the accusations, a formal apology, and threatened legal action should the company persist in spreading unverified information.
As of the latest update, the power outage remains in effect, with JED workers insisting they will not resume operations until the union’s concerns are satisfactorily addressed.