Soldiers Invade Ikeja Electric Office Over Power Disconnection
Personnel of the Nigerian military have invaded the offices of Ikeja Electric in Lagos State, assaulting staff members and disrupting operations.
The incident occurred at Ikeja Electric’s office on Ago Palace Way, Okota, Isolo, Lagos, and was captured in videos obtained by LEADERSHIP. The footage shows uniformed military personnel armed with weapons, forcing employees to kneel while assaulting others.
Sources also confirmed a similar invasion took place at Ikeja Electric’s head office in Ikeja, Lagos State’s capital.
The invasion comes amid growing tensions between Ikeja Electric and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) over the disconnection of power supply to the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja.
A national newspaper reported that the base had been without electricity for two weeks after Ikeja Electric disconnected the supply due to unpaid debts amounting to millions of naira. According to sources, an agreement had been made for the NAF to pay ₦60 million monthly to guarantee 10 to 12 hours of electricity supply daily.
However, some military officials argued that the power outage was compromising the base’s security, particularly impacting an operational warehouse that stores high-caliber armaments. Despite these concerns, sources within Ikeja Electric maintained that the Air Force failed to meet its financial obligations, leading to the disconnection.
The invasion has caused widespread fear among Ikeja Electric employees, with many reportedly in hiding. Some workers have refused to return to work, fearing further aggression.
“I’ve been trying to reach our managers. Their numbers have been unreachable, and most likely, they have been attacked by the military guys,” one staff member said.
“This is unheard of, unlawful, and disgraceful—that the military can invade the offices of companies in a civil society.”
As of the time of filing this report, Ikeja Electric offices remain closed, with no official response from the Nigerian Air Force regarding the allegations.
