Military vs civilian: The Ikeja Electric invasion

In what observers are describing as a disturbing breakdown in civil-military relations, armed personnel from the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja executed a raid on the headquarters of Ikeja Electric Distribution Company in Alausa, Lagos, leaving multiple staff members and journalists injured. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and raised serious concerns about the security of essential service providers in Nigeria.

According to eyewitness accounts, Air Force personnel arrived at the Ikeja Electric headquarters in military trucks, fully armed, and proceeded to physically assault staff members and journalists present at the scene. Victims were reportedly forced to lie on the ground while being repeatedly beaten. In an apparent attempt to eliminate evidence, the military personnel allegedly confiscated CCTV recordings and other data that might have documented the attack.

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, strongly criticised the incident, describing it as “an unprovoked assault” that “not only jeopardised the security of the staff but also threatened the stability of power supply in the area”. The minister emphasised the importance of respecting the roles each sector plays in national development and called for better communication between military and civilian services.

Behind the violent confrontation lies a significant financial dispute. The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors revealed that the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base currently owes Ikeja Electric approximately N4.3bn in unpaid electricity bills, with reportedly little effort made to settle this outstanding debt. While this does not justify the assault, it provides an important context for the tensions between the institutions.

Following the incident, Air Vice Marshal AK Ademulegun, the Area Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, visited the IKEDC office and promised an investigation into the matter. However, this response has been met with scepticism from the electricity distribution company representatives.

In an interview on TVC, the Chief Executive Officer of ANED, Otunba Sunday Oduntan and spokesperson for all electricity distribution companies dismissed Ademulegun’s stance. “I want to believe we are in a sane country. I still want to believe we are better than we were in 1978 when Fela’s house was invaded. We want to see what the Presidency and military authorities will do because, normally, heads must roll,” he stated.

Oduntan did not mince words in characterising the severity of the incident, likening it to a military coup against civilian institutions. “This is how coups are planned and executed. When military personnel can sign out vehicles and arms to invade civilians, it is a dangerous precedent. What happened yesterday was a coup against Ikeja Electric,” he declared.

He warned that if swift action was not taken, similar incidents could occur on a larger scale, potentially targeting other civilian institutions or even government facilities. “If justice is not served, they will do it again, and in a larger proportion,” Oduntan cautioned.

ANED has called on the Nigerian Air Force, military authorities, and the Presidency to identify and hold accountable the officers responsible for the attack. The association vowed not to relent until justice was served, demanding a transparent investigation and appropriate disciplinary measures against the culprits.

“For people to leave Ikeja Air Force Base fully armed in trucks, to go somewhere and start beating civilians—making them lie down and repeatedly beating them—someone must pay for this,” Oduntan emphasised.

Additionally, ANED is demanding the restoration of all confiscated materials, particularly the CCTV recordings that may contain evidence of the attack. “Unless the military authorities act openly and transparently, and unless all culprits are brought to book, we will not back down. The President must react. This is beyond assurances from an AVM after his officers came to brutalise us. We demand full restoration, and we will not accept anything less,” Oduntan declared.

The attack on Ikeja Electric staff underscores the need for comprehensive reforms in how disputes between military and civilian institutions are resolved. Moving forward, the government must establish clear protocols for military-civilian interactions with specific emphasis on conflict resolution mechanisms that prevent escalation to violence. This should be complemented by developing sustainable payment plans for government institutions with significant utility debt, thereby addressing the root cause of many such disputes before they reach critical levels. The creation of specialised rapid-response mediation teams would also prove valuable in situations where tensions begin to rise, allowing for neutral third-party intervention before confrontations turn physical.

To further protect essential service providers, stronger legislation specifically safeguarding utility workers from intimidation and assault while performing their duties would serve as both deterrent and legal recourse. This should be accompanied by an independent civilian oversight mechanism to monitor interactions between security forces and essential service providers, ensuring accountability and transparency. Finally, joint training programmes bringing together military personnel and utility company staff could foster mutual understanding of operational constraints and build respectful working relationships that make violent confrontations less likely.

As this situation unfolds, many see it as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to democratic principles and civilian authority. The government’s response will set an important precedent for how disputes between military and civilian institutions are handled moving forward.

The incident raises fundamental questions about institutional respect and the boundaries of military authority in a democratic society. For the staff of Ikeja Electric and other essential service providers across the country, the outcome of this case will determine whether they can perform their duties without fear of intimidation or physical harm.

While the investigation continues, one thing remains clear: in a functioning democracy, no institution—not even the military—should be above accountability when civilians’ rights and safety are violated.

Adesokan is a public affairs commentator