Jos Electricity Distribution Plc, JED, says ten employees were abducted during an invasion of its Makurdi office, while the Benue State Government has denied involvement.
The company alleges that staff were assaulted and vehicles and equipment taken away. The government has challenged it to provide evidence and demanded a retraction and apology.
Both sides have sought an investigation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 22, JED said about fifty people forced their way into its Benue office at approximately 1:17 p.m. the previous day.
The company said the group confronted its management over operational and administrative issues.
According to JED, the dispute concerned the energisation of a refurbished transformer supplying Government House and the State House of Assembly, alongside alleged irregularities in electricity connections.
The company alleged that staff were assaulted, ten employees were taken away, and four vehicles and technical equipment were removed.
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It said the personnel and property were released at about 5:45 p.m., after the transformer was reconnected. It also reported injuries to several employees.
JED cited a separate incident on September 3, alleging that its personnel were held at Government House after detecting a meter bypass and compelled to reconnect the meter before being released.
The company said attempts to resolve the dispute with government officials had been unsuccessful and that it had reported the matter to security agencies.
The Benue State Government rejected the allegations.
In a counter-statement, Commissioner for Information and Orientation Solomon Iorpev said JED had provided no credible evidence linking the government to the reported attack.
He challenged the company to substantiate its claims of assault, abduction and injuries and sought an impartial investigation.
The government also disputed JED’s account of the September incident and asked it to publish records of its correspondence with state officials.
It said disagreements over transformer connections and metering should be addressed through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and, where necessary, the courts.
The government demanded the withdrawal of any suggestion that it sanctioned violence, a retraction of allegations concerning meter bypassing and illegal connections, and a formal apology.
It warned that it could pursue legal action over claims it considers false.
Both parties say they support lawful procedures and engagement to resolve the dispute.
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(Editor: Ada Ononye)
