The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has urged the Nigerian Air Force, the military, and the presidency to identify and hold accountable the officers from Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, who assaulted staff and journalists at Ikeja Electric on Thursday.
The association vowed to pursue justice for all individuals harmed during the attack at the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) headquarters in Alausa, Lagos.
A journalist present at the scene, who also suffered from the assault, reported that following the invasion, the Area Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal AK Ademulegun, visited the office later that day, assuring that an investigation would be conducted.
However, during an interview on TVC on Friday, ANED’s Executive Director of Research and Advocacy, Sunday Oduntan, dismissed the idea that Ademulegun was unaware of the incident.
Oduntan, who also serves as the spokesperson for all electricity distribution companies (DisCos), reiterated that the association would not back down until justice was served. He further highlighted that the Ikeja Air Force Base owes a debt of ₦4.3 billion to Ikeja Electric, with no effort made to settle the outstanding amount.
Expressing his outrage, Oduntan criticized the military’s actions, describing them as unacceptable in a democratic society.
“I want to believe that we are in a civilized nation, not in the era of 1978 when Fela’s residence was invaded. We will wait and see what the presidency and military authorities do about this situation. There must be accountability—this cannot be ignored,” he stated.
He condemned the decision to deploy armed personnel in military trucks to attack civilians, forcing over a hundred people to lie on the ground while being repeatedly beaten. “Someone must be held responsible for this,” he insisted.
Oduntan likened the armed invasion of IKEDC to an orchestrated coup against electricity distribution companies and urged political leaders to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves. He described the experience as traumatic, leaving many in distress.
“This is not the time for political theatrics. What happened at Ikeja Electric should serve as a warning to everyone in leadership. If military personnel can mobilize with weapons to attack civilians, they can do much worse,” Oduntan warned.
He emphasized the need for immediate government intervention, cautioning that failure to act could embolden those responsible to carry out even more severe actions in the future.
“This attack was a coup against Ikeja Electric. If there are no consequences, they may target the Lagos State Government, the National Assembly, or even the federal government next. Until the perpetrators are publicly held accountable and our stolen data is returned, we will not relent,” he concluded.
