Jos Disco Alleges Attack, Abduction Of 10 Staff In Benue

Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) Plc has alleged that about 50 youths attacked its office in Makurdi, Benue State, assaulted staff members and abducted 10 personnel during a confrontation over electricity supply issues.

The company, in a statement issued on Thursday, October 22, 2026, said the incident occurred on Wednesday when the youths allegedly forced their way into its Benue State office and confronted the state management team over operational and administrative concerns.

JED said the group identified themselves as Benue youths allegedly acting on the orders of the state government.

According to the company, the dispute included the alleged illegal 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 youths assaulted and molested its staff, abducted 10 personnel, took away four vehicles and various technical tools, and caused injuries to several other employees.

It said the affected personnel and properties were released at about 5:45 p.m. following the forceful reconnection of the transformer.

JED said a similar incident occurred on September 3, 2026, when its staff conducting a routine inspection were allegedly held hostage at the Government House after detecting a meter bypass.

The company claimed the workers were forced to reconnect the bypassed meter before being released.

It said the matter had remained unresolved despite several communications with state government officials.

However, the Benue State Government rejected the allegations.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, said the government strongly rejected what it described as baseless and defamatory allegations in JED’s statement.

Iorpev said the claims that the state government sanctioned violence, abduction or illegal electricity connections were reckless, unfounded and unacceptable.