Tension as labour accuses Air Force of assaulting JED workers - Vanguard News

The National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, has accused personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, of allegedly invading the Jos Electricity Distribution, JED, Plc office in Bauchi State, abducting and assaulting some workers.

The union described the alleged incident as unacceptable and threatened to direct its members to withdraw from the JED office if adequate safety assurances were not provided by Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

According to NUEE, the incident occurred on September 18, 2026, following the disconnection of the NAF residential quarters along Ningi Road, Bauchi, over alleged prolonged non-payment of electricity bills.

In a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, the union alleged that NAF personnel took JED’s State Operating Officer, Mr Samaila Isa Bukar, and other unconfirmed staff members to the Air Force barracks.

NUEE further alleged that the affected workers were assaulted and subjected to physical abuse, while their phones and other personal belongings were seized.

The union claimed that the workers were also threatened against recording the incident and were allegedly forced to reconnect electricity supply to the NAF quarters before being released.

The statement, titled, “Another military invasion of JED Plc Bauchi State office and torture of our members on the 18th of September, 2026,” said the union was concerned over what it described as repeated threats to electricity workers by some customers.

It also referred to an earlier incident involving personnel of Ikeja Electric, alleging that Nigerian Air Force personnel brutalised workers and vandalised the company’s head office in March 2025.

NUEE said: “The National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, condemns totally the invasion of the Jos Electricity Distribution, JED, Plc Bauchi State office by overzealous Military Personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF.

“They abducted the State Operating Officer, Mr. Samaila Isa Bukar, and other unconfirmed staff members and took them to their barracks.

“The military carried out this brutal and barbaric action against innocent members because of the disconnection of the NAF residential quarters located along Ningi Road, Bauchi, due to the prolonged non-payment of electricity bills accruing from the facility.”

The union demanded that the affected workers be taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment and that their phones and other personal belongings allegedly seized during the incident be replaced.

NUEE also demanded an apology from the NAF authorities and called on relevant authorities to investigate the incident and sanction anyone found responsible for what it described as unprofessional conduct.

The union further demanded an undertaking from JED management to provide adequate protection for its members against similar incidents.

It warned that if the safety of workers was not guaranteed by September 23, its members would be advised to stay away from the office until further notice.

NUEE said: “If this job safety assurance is not provided by JED by Wednesday, 23rd September 2026, our members would be advised to stay out of the office till further notice because we cannot work under brutalities, intimidation and threat to life until safety of life and properties are assured.”

The union added: “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”

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