The dilemma of military attacks on EKEDC without sanctions
Recent reports of military personnel attacking Ikeja Electric and the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) have sparked public outrage. These incidents, which involved members of the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army, raise serious concerns about accountability and the rule of law.
The first incident occurred on 7 March 2025, when soldiers from the Nigerian Air Force allegedly stormed the Ikeja Electric headquarters over an outstanding N4 billion debt. While reports indicate that the matter was later resolved amicably, many critical questions remain unanswered. How did the soldiers leave their base without their commander’s knowledge? Who authorised the invasion? And why has no one been held accountable?
Barely a week later, on 14 March 2025, soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 15th Field Engineers Regiment allegedly assaulted EKEDC workers at the Badagry Injection Substation, resulting in two employees being hospitalised. This attack was reportedly linked to a power supply dispute affecting the army barracks.
Despite the gravity of these incidents, no official statements have been issued by the military, nor has anyone been sanctioned. The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has confirmed the attacks, but attempts to obtain a response from the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer have been unsuccessful.
ANED’s Executive Director, Sunday Oduntan, condemned the attacks, recalling the violent assault on Ikeja Electric staff and the destruction of property by the Nigerian Air Force. He further revealed that in the Badagry incident, soldiers abducted two EKEDC staff members—the Distribution Substation Operator (DSO) and a Proton Security Officer—and took them to the army barracks at the 15th Field Engineers Regiment in Topo Town.
The military reportedly justified its actions by claiming that EKEDC had disconnected power to their barracks, which affected their weapon storage, potentially causing bombs to overheat and explode. While this concern may be legitimate, resorting to violent attacks on power company employees and infrastructure is completely unacceptable.
We expect the federal government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to address this disturbing trend of military indiscipline. Ignoring these violations of human rights and property damage only erodes public trust in the government’s ability to uphold the rule of law. Silence on such matters serves no one, least of all the citizens who expect justice and accountability.
