Nationwide Blackout Looms As Electricity Workers Give NAF Three-Day Ultimatum

A nationwide blackout could occur if electricity workers proceed with threatened industrial action over the alleged assault and detention of staff of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) by personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Bauchi State.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) have issued a three-day ultimatum to the authorities, demanding action over the alleged treatment of electricity workers following a dispute over unpaid electricity bills.

The ultimatum, which commenced on September 21, 2026, expires on September 23, after which the unions have threatened to withdraw their services nationwide if their demands are not addressed.

The dispute reportedly began after JED disconnected electricity supply to NAF residential quarters along Ningi Road in Bauchi over an outstanding electricity bill.

JED said the disconnection took place on September 14 following prolonged non-payment and put the outstanding debt owed by the affected NAF quarters at ₦196,730,844.

The distribution company said the amount represented about two per cent of the outstanding debt profile within its Bauchi franchise.

According to JED, the situation escalated on September 18, when NAF personnel allegedly invaded the company’s Bauchi headquarters following the disconnection.

The company said its State Operating Officer, Samaila Isa Bukar, was among those allegedly taken away, alongside an unconfirmed number of meter installers working under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).

JED alleged that the workers were taken in Air Force vehicles to the disconnected residential quarters.

The company further alleged that some of the meter installers were physically assaulted and that Bukar was threatened with further assault unless electricity supply was restored.

JED also alleged that the workers’ mobile phones were seized during the incident and that they were released only after power was restored to the affected quarters.

The allegations have triggered strong reactions from electricity workers, who say the incident threatens the safety of personnel responsible for operating and maintaining Nigeria’s electricity distribution infrastructure.

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The unions have demanded an investigation into the incident and protection for their members while carrying out their official responsibilities.

Rilwanu Shehu, national deputy president of SSAEAC, said the alleged incident had created fear among electricity workers in Bauchi.

He said workers could not be expected to continue performing their duties if they were exposed to alleged intimidation or physical attacks in the course of their work.

The unions have also called for medical examination of the affected workers, the return of their belongings and an apology over the alleged treatment.

The NUEE Bauchi branch has reportedly directed workers to remain at home pending further instructions from the union’s national leadership.

Union officials have also approached the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police and the state director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to report the matter and seek intervention.

The unions said they were prepared to shut down electricity-sector operations nationwide if the dispute was not resolved before the expiration of the ultimatum.

Such an action could affect activities across the electricity generation, transmission and distribution sectors, potentially disrupting power supply to homes, businesses, industries and public institutions.

However, the threat of a nationwide blackout should not be interpreted as confirmation that such a shutdown has already begun. The proposed action remains conditional on the outcome of efforts to resolve the dispute before the September 23 deadline.

The disagreement also highlights the continuing challenges surrounding electricity debt collection and enforcement of payment obligations involving government establishments and other large electricity consumers.

JED has maintained that the disconnection of the NAF quarters followed prolonged non-payment and that the company had taken the action as part of its efforts to recover outstanding revenue.

The company has also alleged that the subsequent intervention by NAF personnel resulted in the forced restoration of electricity supply.

The Nigerian Air Force, however, had not issued a substantive public response to the allegations in the reports reviewed as of Tuesday.

An NAF spokesperson in Bauchi, Friday Ogili John, was reported to have indicated that the military would respond to the allegations.

Consequently, the claims of assault, unlawful detention, seizure of phones and forced reconnection remain allegations pending an official response and any findings from investigations.

The controversy comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with challenges in the power sector, including electricity distribution losses, infrastructure constraints, unpaid bills and the gap between available generation and reliable supply to consumers.

Power Minister Joseph Tegbe said on September 21 that electricity generation and transmission had remained above 5,000 megawatts in the preceding weeks. He acknowledged, however, that higher generation had not necessarily translated into reliable electricity supply in every community.

The immediate focus is now on the intervention efforts involving the unions, security agencies, JED and the NAF before the expiration of the three-day ultimatum.

If no resolution is reached and the electricity workers implement their threat to withdraw services, the resulting disruption could have implications for Nigeria’s national power supply.

For now, the unions’ September 23 deadline remains the key date in the dispute.

Nationwide Blackout Looms As Electricity Workers Give NAF Three-Day Ultimatum

Edo Police Arrest Cleric Over Alleged Abduction, Sexual Abuse Of Five Girls

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 50-year-old self-styled prophet, Nicholas Nusa, over the alleged abduction and sexual abuse of five girls in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state.

Nusa, identified as the overseer of Divine Grace Church along Imoga Road, Ibillo, was arrested following information received by the police about the alleged disappearance and abuse of the girls.

According to the police, the five girls were allegedly taken from communities around Ibillo and Imoga at different times between September 2025 and April 2026 and kept at the suspect’s residence.

The command said the girls were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse while in the residence, with one of the victims, a 15-year-old girl, becoming pregnant during the period.

The latest police account said the teenager later went into early labour and underwent surgery. She subsequently lost the baby, according to the command.

The development was disclosed by the police spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, during a briefing on the command’s recent operations in the state.

The police said the investigation began after information about the alleged activities was received on September 12, 2026, leading to the arrest of Nusa.

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The command said the suspect allegedly made statements during interrogation, but the allegations against him remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.

Police authorities also said the five girls have been reunited with their respective families following their recovery.

The identities of the girls have not been released, reflecting the need to protect the privacy and welfare of minors involved in an alleged sexual abuse and child protection case.

The police have not publicly disclosed the precise circumstances under which each of the girls allegedly came into Nusa’s residence, whether their families knew they were there or whether other people were involved in their alleged movement and abuse.

Those issues are expected to form part of the ongoing investigation.

The police are also expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s pregnancy, the alleged abuse and the events leading to the loss of her baby.

Nusa remains an accused person and has not been convicted of any offence. The allegations against him will have to be established before a court.

The case forms part of a series of child abuse and sexual violence investigations recently announced by the Edo State Police Command.

In a separate case, the command also announced the arrest of Kadiri Edenokun, 57, over the alleged defilement of his six-year-old stepdaughter in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area.

Police said the six-year-old victim was receiving medical care under the supervision of the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs, while the suspect remained in custody for investigation.

The two cases are separate and should not be treated as part of the same investigation.

The police also reported the arrest of a 23-year-old man in another case involving the alleged defilement of an eight-year-old girl. That matter was reportedly transferred to the Gender and Family Support Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The cases have renewed attention on the vulnerability of children to abduction, sexual violence and exploitation, particularly where minors are placed in the care or custody of adults outside their immediate families.

The Edo Police Command urged parents, guardians and members of the public to promptly report cases involving missing children or suspected abuse to law-enforcement authorities.

Commissioner of Police Patrick Daaor said the command would continue to take action against individuals suspected of committing crimes against children and other vulnerable persons.

The investigation into the alleged abduction and sexual abuse of the five girls is continuing, while the police are expected to forward the case for prosecution after concluding their investigation.

Edo Police Arrest Cleric Over Alleged Abduction, Sexual Abuse Of Five Girls

Abia Police Rescue Four-Day-Old Baby, Arrest Four Over Alleged Theft, Trafficking

The Abia State Police Command has rescued a four-day-old baby allegedly stolen from her mother and arrested four suspects over alleged child stealing, conspiracy and trafficking.

The suspects, identified as Gladys Nathaniel, 48; Victor Udochukwu, 47; Chijioke Obunwa, 59; and Onyeonoro Chinwe, 43, were arrested on September 16, 2026, following what the police described as credible and actionable intelligence.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Maureen Chinaka, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday, saying operatives of the Violent Crimes Response Unit (VCRU) and the Rapid Response Unit (RRU), Obehie, carried out the arrests.

According to the police, preliminary investigations indicated that the four suspects allegedly conspired to take the newborn from her mother and subsequently sold the infant to another person.

The police said the suspects were apprehended following an investigation into the alleged baby theft and trafficking.

Both the baby and her mother were subsequently rescued, according to the command.

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Chinaka said the mother, whom the police described as mentally unstable, had been released to her family for proper care and medical attention.

The newborn, however, was handed over to the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs for protective custody.

The four suspects remain in police custody while the investigation continues at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

The police said the suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation.

The development adds to recent cases involving the alleged trafficking of children in Abia State and the wider South-East region.

Earlier in September, the Abia Police Command reported the arrest of a man and three others over an alleged plan to traffic a 16-month-old child for financial gain. In that separate case, the suspects were transferred from the Central Police Station, Umuahia, for further investigation into alleged conspiracy and child trafficking.

The state command has also recently reported a wider crackdown on kidnapping and human trafficking. The Guardian reported that the command had, between August 10 and September 11, arrested more than 222 suspects in connection with over 152 reported cases, while nine kidnapping and human-trafficking victims were rescued during the period. That report also included the rescue of a one-year-old girl allegedly being targeted by suspected traffickers.

However, details about the alleged buyer of the four-day-old baby, the amount reportedly paid for the child, where the baby was taken from and how the police located the infant have not been publicly disclosed by the command.

The police have also not disclosed whether the alleged buyer has been identified or arrested.

Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and ensuring that anyone found responsible for the alleged crime is brought to justice.

The rescued baby remains under protective care while the police investigation continues.

Abia Police Rescue Four-Day-Old Baby, Arrest Four Over Alleged Theft, Trafficking