In a shocking turn of events, soldiers from the Nigerian Air Force stormed the Ikeja Electric headquarters in Alausa, Lagos, early this morning, assaulting employees and causing extensive damage to office property. The invasion took place around 7:40 a.m., catching workers by surprise and leaving many in a state of fear and confusion.
The attackers, reportedly led by a woman and accompanied by several men dressed in civilian clothing, arrived in a military truck, two OP-MESA vehicles, and other operational vans. Eyewitnesses described how the military personnel forcefully entered the premises, aggressively assaulting workers without warning.
Several workers, who were reportedly on-site for various duties, including journalists preparing for a trip, were also attacked. The soldiers allegedly dragged employees out of a bus, physically assaulted them, and ordered them to sit on the ground in a humiliating manner. Office equipment, including CCTV cameras and doors, was vandalized during the violent attack.
The confrontation reportedly followed the expiration of an ultimatum issued to Ikeja Electric by the Nigerian Air Force to restore power to the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja. The electricity company had previously disconnected the base’s power supply due to an unpaid bill amounting to ₦4 billion.
Ikeja Electric spokesperson Kingsley Okotie confirmed the incident, noting that the military personnel held the workers hostage for over an hour. They blocked all access roads to the headquarters and subjected employees to physical assault. “It was a traumatic experience for everyone involved. The military personnel were relentless, and the workers had no way to escape,” Okotie stated.
The incident has left several Ikeja Electric workers traumatized, with many recounting their experiences of the brutal assault. Funmilayo Adeniyi, a female security officer at the company, shared her harrowing ordeal: “The military stormed in with guns and beat the hell out of me. Two of them carried me and threw me inside their van. I thought they were taking me to their barracks, but minutes later, they dragged me out and ordered all of us to lie on the ground. They poured water on us and beat us with plastic rods. They beat us so badly that we couldn’t even stand up,” she said, her voice filled with pain.
Another security officer, Olajide Kolawole, who was stationed at the gate during the attack, also described the violence he endured. “Some of them even jumped over the fence. It was a terrible experience; they beat the hell out of me. The other guy working with me at the gate, Samuel, was also thoroughly beaten,” he recalled. “After that, they took both of us and some other members of staff to the fuel dump within the premises. They ordered us to lie on the ground and started beating us. They even attacked the workers in the canteen.”
In a chilling account, Gabriel Fatoye, an employee in the facility department, explained how his personal belongings were stolen during the raid. “It was a very brutal experience. I was on my way back to the office from an outside engagement when the men broke in and stole my phone. They ransacked our office, broke the door, and took my phone, which I had left on the table. Since yesterday, I’ve tried calling my phone, but the line has been switched off.”
The violent raid has sparked outrage across the country, with many calling for a full investigation into the military’s actions. The assault has raised serious concerns about the use of force by military personnel and the potential abuse of power.
As calls for accountability grow louder, the Nigerian government faces pressure to ensure justice for the workers who were subjected to this violent attack. The incident has also raised questions about the broader implications of unresolved debt disputes and the potential for such confrontations to escalate in the future.
Several rights groups have condemned the attack, demanding that those responsible for the assault be held accountable. “This is a clear case of abuse of power. No one should be subjected to such brutality, especially in a civilian workplace,” said a spokesperson for one of the advocacy groups. “We demand a thorough investigation and appropriate sanctions against the military officers involved.”
The Nigerian Air Force is yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, and it remains unclear whether any disciplinary actions will be taken. As the investigation continues, the workers at Ikeja Electric and the wider public await answers, hoping that such an event will not be allowed to go unpunished.
The situation remains tense, and the impact of the attack on Ikeja Electric’s operations is still being assessed.
