Armed military personnel stormed the offices of Ikeja Electric (IKEDC) in Lagos State, attacking staff and causing property damage following a dispute over unpaid electricity bills.
According to videos circulating on social media, uniformed personnel from the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja forcefully entered Ikeja Electric’s headquarters in Alausa around 7:40 a.m. on Thursday. The military officers allegedly brutalized employees and abducted the company’s CEO, Folake Soetan. Another group of military personnel reportedly launched an attack on the IKEDC branch at Ago Palace Way, Okota, further escalating the situation.
Sources indicate that the incident was triggered by the disconnection of power supply to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) logistics base in Ikeja due to an outstanding multimillion-naira debt. The base had been without electricity for two weeks following the disconnection, leading to rising tensions between the two entities.
Reports suggest that an agreement was in place for NAF to pay IKEDC a monthly sum of ₦60 million to guarantee a daily power supply of 10 to 12 hours to the base. However, sources within Ikeja Electric claim that NAF failed to meet its financial obligations, leading to the service cut. In contrast, a source from the military argued that the base had consistently fulfilled its part of the agreement and had even overpaid by ₦60 million in November without any clarification on the balance.
A key concern raised by military sources was the operational warehouse storing high-caliber armaments. Rising temperatures, caused by the failure of the cooling systems due to the power outage, reportedly posed significant security risks.
The situation has instilled fear among Ikeja Electric employees, with many avoiding work due to safety concerns. Video footage from the scene showed several employees being forced to kneel while some were reportedly assaulted. A staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “This is unheard of, unlawful, and disgraceful—that the military can invade the offices of companies in a civil society.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has denied any involvement in the violent raid. “The police were not involved in that incident. However, normalcy has returned to the area, and the police are on the ground to ensure that the restored normalcy is maintained,” said Benjamin Hundeyin, the command’s spokesman.
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The escalating dispute between Ikeja Electric and the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base has raised concerns about further unrest if not promptly addressed. While power remains disconnected, there is growing pressure on both parties to resolve the issue through dialogue rather than forceful measures.
