Workers Threaten Nationwide Blackout Over Alleged Assault By Soldiers

​‌‍‌‍‍The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) in Bauchi State, has threatened to shutdown power supply over alleged assault of its members by personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

The association’s Deputy President, Rilwanu Shehu, said this during a peaceful demonstration by workers in Bauchi.

He said that the demonstration was against the alleged invasion and assault of its members by the NAF personnel.

Shehu said that some soldiers invaded the Jos Electricity Distribution (JEDC) Operation Office in Bauchi metropolis on September 18, and accused the electricity workers of disconnecting NAF facilities.

He said that the soldiers assaulted and detained 10 electricity workers, adding that the victims were currently receiving treatment at home.

The deputy president urged the workers to remain calm and law-abiding, as the union was working with the police and the Department of State Security (DSS) to resolve the matter.

“We are scared, we are not safe and cannot continue with our activities. We give the benefit of the doubt to the security operatives, the police and DSS to intervene and resolve the matter amicably.

“We will ground the activities of the electricity industry in the entire nation if nothing is done to the NAF men who assaulted our staff,” he said.

Shehu said that the association had issued a three-day ultimatum to the authorities from Monday, September 21, to Wednesday, September 25, to address the matter or face total blackout.

However, the NAF management in Bauchi is yet to comment on the allegations in spite of messages sent to them.