AfriPulse
November 17, 2025 November 17, 2025
By Stella Odueme
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has reported a violent incident at the Egbu 132/33kV Transmission Substation in Owerri, Imo State, where state government operatives allegedly forcefully entered the facility, vandalized control rooms, and held staff hostage at gunpoint.
The operatives, said to be acting on behalf of the Imo State Government, demanded an illegal outage, disconnecting the substation from the national grid.
Efforts to reach the Imo State Government for comment have been unsuccessful, though the Chairman of the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Engr. Bede Okpara, acknowledged the incident but has not provided further details.
NISO Management expressed serious concern over the safety of its staff and the threat to the national grid, warning that if no update is received by 6:00 p.m. on November 15, 2025, all transmission substations in Owerri will be disconnected from the grid.
A statement signed by NISO management on Saturday reads in parts; ‘Information received from Owerri indicates that the state government
operatives allegedly acting on behalf of the Imo State Government forcefully
entered and vandalized the control rooms at the Egbu 132/33kV Transmission
Substation in their bid to force the Operators to grant illegal outage.
“After
forcefully effecting disconnection at gun point, all NISO personnel on duty at
the affected facilities were held hostage and forced to open the breakers by
the operatives.
“Efforts to reach the Imo State Government for clarification have so far been
unsuccessful. However, contact was made with the Chairman, Imo State
Electricity Regulatory Commission, Engr. Bede Okpara, who confirmed
awareness of the incident and indicated he would revert with further
information.
“As at the time of this report, no update has been provided, and
no government agency or representative of the State Electricity Regulatory
Commission has contacted NISO regarding the matter.
“The continued absence of official communication on the status of our
personnel gives the NISO management a serious concern. Given the severity
of the situation and the danger it poses to the national grid, NISO Management
has resolved to wait until 6:00 p.m. today, 15th November 2025, to establish the
whereabouts and safety of the affected staff and if no information is received,
all transmission substations within Owerri will be disconnected from the national
grid.”
Source: Authorityngr.com | Read the Full Story…
