Nigeria’s power authorities have warned that Imo State risks being cut off from the national grid following the abduction of transmission workers reportedly seized at gunpoint in Owerri. The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) raised the alarm on Saturday, demanding their immediate release.
The agency alleged that armed operatives linked to the Imo State Government carried out the attack, storming the Egbu 132/33kV Transmission Substation and vandalising key control rooms. According to NISO, the men attempted to force system operators into approving an “unauthorised and illegal outage” before abducting the staff on duty.
In a strongly worded statement, NISO said the safety of its personnel had become a matter of “serious concern,” adding that communication from Imo authorities had been nonexistent since the incident. The agency warned it would be compelled to take decisive action to protect the national grid infrastructure.
Among the measures being considered is the disconnection of all transmission substations within the Owerri network. NISO described the step as a “precautionary measure” should information about the missing workers remain unavailable by Saturday evening.
The potential shutdown would plunge large parts of Imo into total blackout, a move the agency insists is necessary to prevent further threats to grid stability and personnel safety. The warning has sparked growing tension among residents who rely on the Egbu transmission hub for power.
While the accusations directly implicate operatives alleged to be working for the state government, there has been no official response from the Imo administration. As of the time of filing this report, the state had neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the incident.
The development adds to ongoing concerns about the security of Nigeria’s power infrastructure, which has repeatedly been targeted by criminal gangs, saboteurs, and other armed groups in recent years.
