POLICE DISMISS KIDNAPPING CLAIMS AT EGBU POWER SUBSTATION, SAY INCIDENT STEMMED FROM INDUSTRY DISPUTE.

By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
16- NOV- 2025

The Imo State Police Command has refuted reports suggesting that workers at the Egbu 132/33kV Transmission Substation in Owerri were abducted or held hostage, clarifying that the commotion resulted from an operational disagreement between electricity distribution companies rather than a criminal incident.

Widespread speculation over the weekend had alleged that personnel at the facility were detained at gunpoint during a forced disconnection. However, in an official statement released on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed that no staff of the National Independent System Operator (NISO) or the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) were abducted or compelled to carry out illegal operations.

According to the police, the situation was traced to a dispute involving the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and the Orashi Electricity Distribution Company. The presence of the Chairman of the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC), Engr. Bede Okpara, helped calm tensions at the site.

DSP Okoye noted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to launch a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the disruption. He assured the public that adequate security measures are now in place to ensure uninterrupted operations at the facility.

The Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding personnel working at key installations, stressing that no worker would be allowed to perform their duties under intimidation or duress.

Despite the police clarification, the Nigerian Independent System Operator had earlier raised alarm, alleging that its staff were forced to carry out a disconnection after armed individuals stormed the control rooms. NISO claimed that some of its personnel were still unaccounted for and warned that it might disconnect Owerri substations from the national grid if it could not confirm their safety.

Attempts by NISO to reach the Imo State Government were reportedly unsuccessful, though the group confirmed that Engr. Bede Okpara had acknowledged knowledge of the incident.

The conflicting accounts underscore ongoing tensions over oversight and operational authority at critical electricity infrastructure sites. Authorities say investigations are continuing and have urged the public and stakeholders to avoid spreading unverified information that could escalate concerns around national grid stability.