NATIONWIDE SHUTDOWN LOOMS AS ELECTRICITY WORKERS PROTEST ALLEGED BRUTALITY
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened a nationwide shutdown following an alleged brutal assault on staff of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). In a statement signed by its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, the union said the action became necessary after workers on duty at the Egbu 132/33kV Transmission Substation in Imo State were allegedly beaten, held at gunpoint, and abducted by armed police officers reportedly acting on orders from the state government. The officers were said to have forcefully entered the substation’s control rooms, vandalised equipment, and disrupted operations. Workers were allegedly assaulted, held hostage, and whisked away to an undisclosed location. NUEE revealed that it has already instructed its members to halt power supply operations in Imo State until further notice. It further warned that it would withdraw services nationwide unless urgent steps are taken to protect electricity workers across the...