The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has called on the Nigerian Air Force, the military, and the presidency to identify and punish officers involved in the violent attack on staff and journalists at Ikeja Electric on Thursday, March 6.
The association vowed to continue pressing for justice following the brutalisation of civilians at the Ikeja Electric headquarters in Alausa, Lagos.
Among those assaulted was a correspondent, who was also reportedly beaten by the military personnel involved in the incident.
Following the attack, Air Vice Marshall AK Ademulegun, the Area Officer Commanding of the Logistics Command, visited the Ikeja Electric office and promised an investigation.
However, Sunday Oduntan, ANED’s Executive Director for Research and Advocacy, expressed disbelief at Ademulegun’s ignorance of the incident during a Friday, March 7, interview on TVC.
Oduntan, who also serves as the spokesperson for all electricity distribution companies (DisCos), said the association would not back down until the perpetrators were brought to justice.
He highlighted that the Ikeja Air Force Base owes N4.3 billion in unpaid electricity bills, yet no efforts have been made to settle the debt. Oduntan likened the military’s actions to an attack on the entire DisCo sector, calling it a “coup” against electricity distributors.
He stressed that political leaders must take the matter seriously, as such actions demonstrate the military’s ability to “plan and execute a coup.”
Oduntan also condemned the military for removing key evidence, including the CCTV database, during the attack, and called for its full restoration.
He warned that unless the culprits were identified and punished, such incidents could occur again on a larger scale.
“This is not just an attack on Ikeja Electric, it’s a message to all Nigerians. If we allow this, the military can do anything,” Oduntan declared, urging the presidency to respond decisively to ensure the safety of all citizens.
