The All Progressives Congress (APC) Benue State Chapter has strongly condemned the reported assault, abduction and intimidation of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) personnel in Makurdi.
According to reports, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, a group of youths allegedly linked to the Benue State Government invaded JED’s office in the state capital, assaulted workers, abducted ten personnel and seized four operational vehicles. Although the workers and properties were subsequently released, the incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of public utility workers and the rule of law in Benue State.
The party considers it unacceptable for ordinary citizens to bear the cost of a confrontation arising from a dispute involving the state government and a public utility company. Government House cannot be treated as more important than the homes, businesses and essential services that depend on electricity throughout Benue State.
APC urged the state government to put the welfare of the people first, engage the relevant parties immediately and take concrete steps to restore public confidence. The party called on the Alia administration to:
1. Issue an unreserved public apology to JED, its affected personnel and the people of Benue State for the incident and the resulting disruption to public life.
2. Settle all verified and undisputed outstanding electricity bills owed by the state government, while resolving any contested charges through lawful and transparent procedures.
3. Ensure the immediate restoration of normal electricity supply by engaging JED and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) in good faith and providing credible assurances that workers can safely perform their duties.
4. Provide appropriate compensation for verifiable losses suffered by businesses and individuals where liability is established through a fair and transparent claims process.
5. Support an impartial investigation into the reported assault, abduction and seizure of JED property, ensuring that anyone found culpable is held accountable in accordance with the law, regardless of political affiliation or connections.
The party further called for the addressing of the troubling resurgence of political thuggery and intimidation in Benue State, stressing that no group should be permitted to take the law into its own hands and that allegations of links between the perpetrators and government officials must be investigated independently rather than treated as established facts.
The APC therefore urges the Alia administration to take responsibility for resolving this crisis and to ensure that the people of Benue are not made to pay for a crisis they did not create.
