The Benue State Government and Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED) have exchanged accusations following an alleged attack on the electricity firm’s employees and the invasion of its workplace in Makurdi.
The authorities, in an announcement issued on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, rejected JED’s allegation that about 50 individuals who invaded its workplace on Wednesday had been Benue youths allegedly performing on the federal government’s directions.
JED had mentioned the incident adopted a dispute over the connection of the Government House to a refurbished 2MVA 33/11kV transformer supplying the Government House and the State House of Assembly.
The firm alleged that the group assaulted employees, kidnapped 10 personnel, seized 4 autos and took technical gear. It mentioned the affected personnel and properties had been launched at about 5:45 p.m. after the transformer was reconnected.
However, the state authorities described the allegations as unfounded and demanded that the corporate withdraw its insinuation that it sanctioned violence.
In its response, the federal government argued that JED’s use of the phrase “allegedly” confirmed that it had not established a hyperlink between the state and the incident.
It additionally accused the corporate of constructing claims with out offering names, identities or different credible proof to assist them.
The authorities known as on safety companies to conduct an neutral and clear investigation into the allegations of abduction, assault and accidents.
It additionally rejected JED’s account of a separate incident on 3 September, when the corporate mentioned its employees had been held on the Government House after detecting a metre bypass on the premises.
JED had alleged that its employees had been pressured to reconnect the bypassed metre earlier than being launched.
The firm mentioned the matter remained unresolved regardless of a number of communications with state authorities officers.
The authorities described JED’s reference to the September incident as deceptive and challenged the corporate to publish information of the correspondence it claimed to have had with state officers.
On the dispute over the transformer and metering, the federal government mentioned such issues ought to be dealt with by way of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and, the place obligatory, the courts.
It additionally insisted that regulatory necessities and security requirements governing electricity operations should apply equally to JED and its clients, together with public establishments.
The authorities additional accused JED of constructing reckless statements earlier than investigations into the incident had been concluded.
It described the corporate’s allegations as suspicious however didn’t present proof to assist its declare that the assertion was an try to tarnish the federal government’s picture.
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The authorities demanded the fast withdrawal of the allegation that it sanctioned violence, a retraction of claims that it engaged in money-bypassing or unlawful connections, and a proper apology to the federal government and the individuals of Benue State.
It warned that it may pursue authorized motion if the corporate continued to disseminate what it described as false info.
JED, in its earlier assertion, mentioned the incident had been reported to related safety companies and that it will cooperate with investigations to ascertain what occurred and forestall a recurrence.
The firm additionally mentioned technical interventions, together with transformer energisation and the dealing with of metering irregularities, should adjust to relevant rules and security requirements.
Although each events expressed assist for constructive engagement and adherence to regulatory necessities, their statements offered conflicting accounts of the incidents and the alleged involvement of state officers.
As of Thursday, neither assertion supplied the end result of a safety investigation into the alleged attack or independently established who organised the group that entered JED’s Makurdi workplace.
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