The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened to direct its members to withdraw from the Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) Plc office in Makurdi, Benue State, unless management guarantees their safety following allegations by the union that workers were abducted, tortured and intimidated by suspected government house thugs.

The union said the decision would take effect until further notice if management did not provide adequate occupational safety assurances, warning that, in its view, electricity workers could no longer work under threats to their lives and property.

In a statement signed by its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, NUEE condemned what it described as the alleged invasion of JED’s Benue State office on October 21, 2026, calling it another attack on electricity workers performing their official duties.

According to the union, the assailants allegedly abducted the Benue State Operating Officer, Samson Abah, and an unconfirmed number of other employees before taking them to the River Benue Bridge.

NUEE alleged that the attackers, who it said were armed with weapons suspected to be guns and machetes, invaded the company’s district office in Makurdi following the disconnection of electricity supply to the Benue State Government House.

According to NUEE, the attackers allegedly demanded money for the workers’ release. They forced them to reconnect electricity supply to the Government House through what the union described as an illegally installed transformer.

The union called on electricity distribution companies to protect their employees while on duty, insisting that workers should not face violence or intimidation for carrying out operational decisions.

It demanded that the affected employees receive adequate medical treatment, that the company replace their seized phones and other personal belongings, and that the Benue State Governor issue a written apology.

It maintained that electricity workers could not be expected to continue working in an environment that the union characterised as involving alleged brutality, intimidation and threats to their lives.