Pandemonium enveloped the headquarters of Ikeja Electric early Thursday morning when men in military uniform launched a violent assault of workers, destroyed equipment and took some personnel hostage.
The military alleged to have come from the Ikeja Air Force base demanded to see the chief executive officer(CEO) of the Electricity Distribution Company (DisCo) but while the search for the CEO continued, others went on rampage destroying key assets and beating staff members they could see.
Addressing the media shortly after the mayhem, the head of corporate communications in Ikeja Electric, Kingsley Okotie confirmed the military officers were from Sam Ethan Air Force in Ikeja. Okotie linked the action to huge indebtedness of the Air Force which he said is about N4 billion.
“It is not because of the electricity supply but because of indebtedness, they invaded us, beat us up, carted away our laptops. They destroyed the entire corporate headquarters of our business, as well as our Oshodi business units and other locations around Oshodi that services the Air Force base.
“It is on record that in the last 10 years, their bills have accumulated to over N4 billion, I repeat N4 billion, and their arrangements for payments in terms of even servicing their electricity bill have been aborted” Okotie said.
He said, instead of coming to the table at the DisCo always with them, they resorted to violence. Okotie, recalled that sometimes in October last year, AOC Ademulegun intervened on behalf of the base commander and there was some level of agreements, which the company implemented
He said, what their action practically did was to deny the Disco’s technicians access to the facilities so that they can manipulate that installation within the base so that the regulated hours that they will get supply based on what they can pay for is exceeded
The spokesman described that as an infraction and unlawful, that is criminal, adding that, ‘What they now came to do to us after writing to us, barely yesterday, giving us a 48 hours notice to reconnect.’ He noted that, previously when the Nigerian army Cantonment in Ikeja, had issues of bills and supply, both parties came into understanding and it was resolved amicably.
Narrating the incident further, he said, “when they came they went away with 15 of our operational vehicles, abducted some staff and took them at gunpoints with the drivers, but a few minutes ago, they returned them back, so that is what we are facing right now, and we want justice, this is unfair on us as individuals, this unfair on us as Nigerians, and even as an organization, that is into the business of utilities, providing service.”
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