Personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Bauchi Operations Base, have been accused of invading the Bauchi office of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) and assaulting its staff over disconnection of electricity supply to the facility belonging to the Air Force.
The JEDC made the accusation in a statement issued on Saturday, September 19, saying the personnel invaded the office in GRA, Bauchi, on Friday, September 18.
JEDC disclosed that the incident followed the disconnection of the NAF residential quarters located along Ningi Road, Bauchi State, due to alleged non-payment of electricity bills.
JED said: “It is also pertinent to note that the Nigerian Air Force, Bauchi State, has a huge outstanding electricity debt arising from prolonged non-payment of electricity bills.
“The disconnection of the residential quarters was therefore affected in accordance with applicable regulatory and operational procedures following the continued failure to settle the outstanding bills.”
JED stated that the affected residential quarters have for a number of months not made any payments for electricity consumed, as the occupiers claimed that the electricity charges were expected to be incorporated into the billing of the main NAF Base.
“Due to the huge outstanding electricity debts, the matter was addressed in accordance with the applicable regulatory and operational procedures, culminating in the disconnection of electricity supply to the quarters on September 14.
.
“It is therefore deeply concerning and unacceptable that rather than seek redress through the appropriate regulatory, administrative or legal channels, personnel of the NAF resorted to an unwarranted and intimidating show of force by invading the company’s office and forcibly taking away the State Operating Officer, Mr. Samaila Isa Bukar, alongside an unconfirmed number of JED Plc meter installers who were at the office in connection with the ongoing Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) metering exercise.”
It added that the affected JED Plc personnel were conveyed in vehicles belonging to the Air Force personnel to the said disconnected quarters, where the installers were allegedly subjected to intense physical assault.
It further alleged that the State Operating Officer was also reportedly threatened with further and more severe assault unless electricity supply to the quarters was restored.
“The situation was further aggravated by the seizure of the mobile phones of the officers, accompanied by threats against anyone who attempted to record or document the incident. It was only after subjecting our personnel to the forced reconnection of electricity supply to the quarters that they were eventually released.
“Consequently, the management of JED Plc is taking necessary steps to escalate this matter to the appropriate authorities and relevant regulatory institutions for immediate investigation and
necessary actions. JED Plc will pursue all lawful remedies available to protect its employees, operations and institutional rights.”.
