System Operator Decries Alleged Vandalism, Staff Detention By Imo Govt Operatives

The management of Nigerian Independent Systems Operator, NISO, has raised an alarm over the abduction of its staff allegedly by agents of Imo State after vandalisation of the control rooms at the Egbu 132/33kV Transmission Substation in the state.

The operatives, according to the statement, stormed the facility in an attempt to force the Operators to grant an illegal outage.

“After forcefully effecting disconnection at gunpoint, all NISO personnel on duty at the affected facilities were held hostage and forced to open the breakers by the operatives”, NISO said.

The statement read, “Information received from Owerri indicates that the state government operatives allegedly acting on behalf of the Imo State Government, forcefully entered and vandalised the control rooms at the Egbu 132/33kV Transmission Substation in their bid to force the Operators to grant an illegal outage.

“Efforts to reach the Imo State Government for clarification have so far been unsuccessful.

“However, contact was made with the chairman, Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Engr. Bede Okpara, who confirmed awareness of the incident and indicated he would revert with further information.

“As at the time of this report, no update has been provided, and no government agency or representative of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission has contacted NISO regarding the matter.

“The continued absence of official communication on the status of our
personnel gives the NISO management a serious concern. Given the severity of the situation and the danger it poses to the national grid, NISO Management has resolved to wait until 6:00 p.m. today, 15th November 2025, to establish the whereabouts and safety of the affected staff and if no information is received, all transmission substations within Owerri will be disconnected from the national grid.