The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has issued a grave warning of a potential nationwide power shutdown following what it described as a brutal and unlawful attack on workers of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in Imo State. The union condemned the incident in a strongly worded statement released by its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, calling the assault “barbaric, unacceptable, and a threat to national stability.”
According to NUEE, the crisis unfolded at the Egbu 132/33kV Transmission Substation in Owerri, where on-duty staff were reportedly overpowered, beaten, and held at gunpoint by armed police officers. The officers were said to be acting under the instructions of the Imo State Government, allegedly forcing their way into restricted control rooms to compel workers into executing an “illegal outage.”
Eyewitness testimonies reportedly confirmed that the invading officers vandalised critical control equipment, disrupted ongoing operations, and coerced staff into opening breakers against standard safety protocol. The union also alleged that several employees were abducted and taken to an unknown location, with their personal belongings vehicles, phones, laptops either destroyed or confiscated during the assault. CCTV cameras installed within the facility were also said to have been deliberately smashed.
NUEE described the attack as one of the most shocking incidents of state-enabled intimidation in the power sector’s history. The union emphasised that electricity workers cannot continue operating under conditions of fear, violence, and outright disregard for human and workplace rights.
In its statement, NUEE demanded the urgent release of the abducted workers and insisted that TCN management, the Federal Ministry of Power, and the Inspector General of Police provide formal assurances ensuring worker safety across all facilities nationwide. The union also called for a full replacement of destroyed staff property and immediate medical attention for injured members.
“The gangster-like actions of these officers amount to a direct attack on innocent workers whose only duty is to serve the nation,” the statement read. “We cannot and will not tolerate such reckless and life-threatening behaviour.”
As a result, the union has directed all electricity workers in Imo State to suspend operations indefinitely until their safety is guaranteed. It further warned that failure by authorities to address the situation promptly could trigger a total withdrawal of services across the entire federation, a move that could plunge Nigeria into a nationwide blackout.
NUEE’s position is that no worker should be subjected to brutality or forced to violate operational standards under duress, especially in a sector as sensitive as electricity transmission.
The warning has heightened concerns across the country, with industry stakeholders, businesses, and households fearing the impact of a potential national power shutdown. Electricity unions have historically demonstrated their capacity to halt grid operations, and their latest threat signals a possible escalation if government agencies do not act swiftly.
As of press time, neither TCN nor the Federal Ministry of Power had issued a formal response to the allegations. Meanwhile, residents of Imo State are already feeling the impact of the union’s directive, as power supply in many communities has been disrupted.
NUEE reiterated that work will only resume when tangible commitments are made to protect staff from further intimidation, harassment, or threats to their lives. The union added that it remains open to dialogue but would not compromise on the safety and dignity of electricity workers.
