The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has strongly condemned the brutal attack on staff and journalists at Ikeja Electric (IKEDC) by armed personnel from the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday.
The association is calling for the immediate identification and punishment of the officers responsible for the assault, which occurred at the headquarters of IKEDC in Alausa, Lagos.
The violent incident, which reportedly left multiple individuals, including our correspondent, injured, has sparked outrage across the country.
Following the attack, Air Vice Marshal AK Ademulegun, the Area Officer Commanding the Logistics Command, visited the IKEDC office, promising to investigate the matter.
However, Sunday Oduntan, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy at ANED, criticized Ademulegun’s apparent attempt to distance himself from the attack during an interview on TVC today.
Oduntan emphasized that the military personnel involved could not have acted without orders or oversight, stating that Ademulegun’s visit and comments were insufficient in addressing the gravity of the situation.
A Long-Standing Debt at the Heart of the Conflict
The attack appears to be linked to a longstanding financial dispute between the Nigerian Air Force and Ikeja Electric. According to Oduntan, the Ikeja Air Force Base currently owes IKEDC a debt of N4.3 billion, which has remained unpaid.
Despite efforts to resolve the issue, the lack of any serious attempt by the military to settle this debt has fueled tensions.
Oduntan underscored the severity of the attack, describing the brutalization of more than a hundred individuals as a deeply traumatic experience. He expressed disbelief that such an incident could occur in a country where one would expect civilians to be protected by law enforcement and not subjected to violence by the military.
An Unprecedented Act of Aggression
The violence reportedly began when military personnel from Ikeja Air Force Base, fully armed and traveling in trucks, stormed the IKEDC office in Alausa.
The assailants allegedly made the victims lie down on the floor, then beat them repeatedly. The scene left many staff members and journalists traumatized, with some still unable to recover from the experience.
Oduntan was adamant that the incident went beyond a mere local dispute and warned of the potential implications for national security.
He likened the attack to a “coup” against the entire electricity distribution sector, expressing concern that the actions of the military could embolden further attacks on civilians by armed forces in the future.
He called on political leaders to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves, as the military’s actions raised fears about the state of governance in Nigeria.
“This is how people easily plan and execute a coup,” Oduntan stated. “If the military can sign out vehicles and trucks with fully armed men to invade civilians, we are not dealing with trivial issues anymore. This is about good governance and the ability of the military to respect civilian rule.”
A Call for Justice and Accountability
ANED has vowed to continue pushing for justice until those responsible for the assault are brought to book. Oduntan emphasized that unless there is a transparent investigation and visible action taken against the culprits, the military would continue to undermine civilian authority.
He expressed frustration with the response from the Air Force, noting that Ademulegun’s promises were insufficient and did not reassure the public or the electricity distribution companies of their safety.
Oduntan also highlighted the military’s efforts to conceal the identity of the attackers, claiming that they deliberately took away the CCTV database to prevent footage of the assault from being accessed. He demanded the immediate return of the database, restoration of stolen items, and an apology from the military for the unprovoked attack.
“The president and military authorities must act swiftly and transparently. They need to assure us of our safety, not just with words but through tangible actions. Until all the culprits are publicly brought to justice, and the stolen materials returned, we will not rest,” Oduntan concluded.
The Need for National Action
The attack has sparked broader concerns about the relationship between Nigeria’s military and its civilian institutions.
While the incident appears to be rooted in a financial dispute, the aggressive nature of the assault has raised fears about the potential for future abuses of power by military personnel.
For ANED, the call for justice is not only about seeking redress for the individuals affected but also about reinforcing the principle of civilian rule and ensuring that military forces remain accountable to the law.
As ANED continues to seek justice, the Nigerian public is left grappling with the implications of an assault that appears to undermine the very foundations of democratic governance and civilian authority.
The outcome of this case will likely set a precedent for how the Nigerian government and military address future incidents involving civilian-military relations.
