In a shocking display of aggression, over a dozen personnel from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) stormed the office of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) in Lagos on Thursday morning, assaulting staff and vandalizing property. The attack, which occurred at the company’s headquarters in Ikeja, has left employees shaken, with reports of stolen laptops, phones, and damaged office equipment.
According to Kingsley Okotie, the spokesperson for IKEDC, the military personnel arrived at the office around 8 a.m. with a truck and immediately began to assault staff members. “They came in with their truck, beating our staff. They even took my laptop, and now most staff can’t find their phones since they left,” Okotie said
The attack has drawn widespread concern, with many questioning how the military could take such drastic action against a civilian organisation. The incident is said to be linked to an ongoing debt dispute between IKEDC and the Nigerian Air Force. The military base, located at the Sam Ethnan Barracks in Ikeja, had its electricity supply disconnected by IKEDC ten days ago due to an outstanding debt of over N4 billion.
The dispute between IKEDC and the Nigerian Air Force stems from unpaid electricity bills, with the military base owing a substantial amount for power consumption over the years. IKEDC, as a power distribution company, has the responsibility to ensure that debts are settled, and when these debts accumulate, they have the right to disconnect power supply to the affected parties.
However, the situation took a dangerous turn when the military decided to take matters into their own hands, launching the violent attack on the electricity office. Okotie revealed that the military personnel were enraged by the power disconnection and the outstanding debt, which led to the assault on staff members. “They molested and assaulted our staff. They went away with about 16 of our vehicles, forcing our drivers to move them. They destroyed all our offices, stole laptops and phones, and damaged our IT infrastructure, even disabling all our CCTV cameras,” Okotie said.
The NAF personnel not only physically attacked the employees but also caused significant damage to the company’s equipment and infrastructure. The incident has left many employees in distress, as their personal belongings were also taken, and the office systems were severely damaged. The destruction of CCTV cameras has raised concerns about security and accountability in the aftermath of the attack.
The attack has left a deep impact on the staff at IKEDC. Many employees are still reeling from the shock of the invasion, and their safety has been called into question. The violent actions of the military personnel have also led to a breakdown in the company’s operations. With vital office equipment stolen or damaged.
