Benue government, JED clash over alleged attack on electricity worker

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

The government, in a statement issued on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, rejected JED’s allegation that about 50 persons who invaded its office on Wednesday were Benue youths allegedly acting on the government’s instructions.

JED had said the incident followed a dispute over the connection of the Government House to a refurbished 2MVA 33/11kV transformer supplying the Government House and the State House of Assembly.

The company alleged that the group assaulted staff, abducted 10 personnel, seized four vehicles and took technical equipment. It said the affected personnel and properties were released at about 5:45 p.m. after the transformer was reconnected.

However, the state government described the allegations as unfounded and demanded that the company withdraw its insinuation that it sanctioned violence.

In its response, the government argued that JED’s use of the word “allegedly” showed that it had not established a link between the state and the incident.

It also accused the company of making claims without providing names, identities or other credible evidence to support them.

The government called on security agencies to conduct an impartial and transparent investigation into the allegations of abduction, assault and injuries.

It also rejected JED’s account of a separate incident on 3 September, when the company said its staff were held at the Government House after detecting a metre bypass on the premises.

JED had alleged that its staff were forced to reconnect the bypassed metre before being released.

The company said the matter remained unresolved despite several communications with state government officials.

The government described JED’s reference to the September incident as misleading and challenged the company to publish records of the correspondence it claimed to have had with state officials.

On the dispute over the transformer and metering, the government said such matters should be handled through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and, where necessary, the courts.

It also insisted that regulatory requirements and safety standards governing electricity operations must apply equally to JED and its customers, including public institutions.

The government further accused JED of making reckless statements before investigations into the incident had been concluded.

It described the company’s allegations as suspicious but did not provide evidence to support its claim that the statement was an attempt to tarnish the government’s image.

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The government demanded the immediate withdrawal of the allegation that it sanctioned violence, a retraction of claims that it engaged in money-bypassing or illegal connections, and a formal apology to the government and the people of Benue State.

It warned that it could pursue legal action if the company continued to disseminate what it described as false information.

JED, in its earlier statement, said the incident had been reported to relevant security agencies and that it would cooperate with investigations to establish what happened and prevent a recurrence.

The company also said technical interventions, including transformer energisation and the handling of metering irregularities, must comply with applicable regulations and safety standards.

Although both parties expressed support for constructive engagement and adherence to regulatory requirements, their statements presented conflicting accounts of the incidents and the alleged involvement of state officials.

As of Thursday, neither statement provided the outcome of a security investigation into the alleged attack or independently established who organised the group that entered JED’s Makurdi office.