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.
The incident has raised alarms over the security of critical energy infrastructure in the state.