The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the invasion of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) headquarters by its personnel.
On Thursday, March 6, Air Force officers stormed the power company’s office in response to the disconnection of electricity at Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja, Lagos over a N4 billion debt.
According to Kingsley Okotie, IKEDC’s spokesperson, the personnel vandalized the office, assaulted employees, and took away several company assets.
Addressing the incident at a press briefing, Adeniran Ademuwagun, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, condemned the act and assured that disciplinary action would be taken.
“We will investigate what happened and impose appropriate sanctions. The Nigerian Air Force takes the safety of citizens very seriously, and Ikeja Electric should continue providing services without fear of disturbance,” Ademuwagun said.
He described the invasion as unfortunate and apologized to the management of Ikeja Electric, reaffirming the air force’s commitment to professionalism and discipline.
“The dialogue with Ikeja Electric has been fruitful, and we will continue to work on ensuring our men remain under positive control,” he added. “The Nigerian Air Force is a disciplined force, and any action that undermines our integrity will not be tolerated.”
Kola Adesina, Chairman of Ikeja Electric, detailed the extent of the damage caused by the invasion.
“About 200 staff were on-site when the incident occurred. Reports confirmed that 10 individuals were brutalized, and several office assets were destroyed or removed,” he said. “It was a terrible experience for our staff, and it disrupted our operations significantly. We are grateful that the leadership of the Air Force has responded swiftly, and we believe that justice will be served.”
The incident has sparked outrage, with calls for accountability and measures to prevent a recurrence.
