Abuja / Owerri — Nigeria’s already fragile power supply faces fresh disruption after the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) threatened a nationwide withdrawal of services over what it described as a “brutal invasion” and attack on staff at the Egbu 132/33kV Transmission Substation in Imo State.
The union has ordered its members to halt operations in Imo State with immediate effect, warning that if those responsible are not held to account and workers’ safety guaranteed, it will extend the shutdown across the country.
According to a statement signed by NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, armed police officers allegedly stormed the substation on Friday, acting “on behalf of the Imo State government.”
NUEE said the officers:
- Forced their way into control rooms and vandalised equipment
- Allegedly disconnected power at gunpoint and compelled operators to open breakers
- Beat, molested and assaulted staff on duty
- Destroyed personal property, including phones, laptops, vehicles and CCTV cameras
- Abducted some workers to an undisclosed location
“This level of gangsterism and unprofessional conduct is unacceptable,” the union said, demanding the immediate release of any detained staff, full medical care for those assaulted, and compensation for damaged or seized property.
The union also wants a formal written commitment from the TCN management, Federal Ministry of Power and the Inspector General of Police guaranteeing the safety of electricity workers and restraining security operatives from similar actions in future.
“Consequently, NUEE directs all members to stay away from the office until further notice… Failure to address these issues promptly will leave the union with no alternative but to withdraw our services nationwide,” the statement warned.
The Imo State Police Command has rejected claims of abduction or hostage-taking, describing the episode instead as an “operational disagreement” involving the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and the Orashi Electricity Distribution Company.
In a statement, Command spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye said Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma has ordered the State CID to conduct a full-scale investigation into what happened at the substation on 15 November 2025.
“Preliminary findings show that there is no indication that Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) or National Integrated Power Transmission Company personnel were abducted, held hostage, or forced to disconnect any facility,” Okoye said.
He added that the chairman of the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC) was present at the site to help resolve the dispute and that police have now secured the facility and taken steps to prevent any further breakdown of law and order.
The command assured residents that it remains committed, in partnership with the state government, to ensuring that all electricity workers can perform their duties “safely, professionally and without intimidation.”
Meanwhile, consumers and industry watchers are anxiously monitoring the standoff, wary that a prolonged face-off between NUEE and security agencies could trigger wider outages, further straining Nigeria’s unstable national grid and deepening public frustration over power supply.
