Air Force Logistics Command Launches Investigation Into Personnel’s Invasion Of Ikeja Electric Offices

The invading personnel reportedly attacked anyone in sight to protest the disconnection of power supply to the base two weeks ago, which threw the facility into total darkness over a N4 billion debt, among other issues.

They also allegedly destroyed staff personal effects such as phones, laptops, and vehicles, as well as office equipment and gadgets, including company properties.

Meanwhile, the Air Officer Commanding, AOC, Logistics Command, AVM Adeniran Ademuwagun, has described the invasion as unfortynate, saying investigation would be carried out.

The base had earlier raised the alarm over the implications of such a blackout on patients at its reference hospital, who were referred to other facilities due to the lack of power, which disrupted planned surgeries. Aside from the impact on the health of patients, the Air Force said highly flammable jet fuel stored at the base was exposed to soaring temperatures, further heightening the risk.

It was gathered that the NAF personnel invaded the headquarters of Ikeja Electric twice, yesterday.

In the first visit, the NAF personnel allegedly destroyed equipment, including laptops, and shattered glass from the third floor to the fifth floor. Not done, they bundled some of the staff into their vehicle, ordered them to sit down, and bend their heads between their knees.

Sources said that when news of the invasion by the ‘military’ men reached the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, as no one could tell which branch of the military was responsible for the invasion, a senior army officer from the 9 Brigade visited the scene and directed the Air Force personnel to leave. However, after the senior officer’s departure, the Air Force personnel reportedly returned and continued their actions.

Journalists and civilians on ground who were filming or taking pictures of the invasion had their phones seized and smashed, with one of them attacked.

According to sources, the Lagos State government had earlier intervened by urging the electricity company to provide services to the Air Force base. After complying with the state government’s appeal, the company was said to have cut power supply to the base when no effort was made to clear the debt.

Confirming the invasion, the management of Ikeja DisCo, through its Head of Corporate Communications, Kingsley Okotie, said: “In my young adult life, I witnessed something I have never seen before, men of the Armed Forces from the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, Lagos State, who are our customers, invaded our office, beat us up, carted away our laptops, and destroyed the entire corporate headquarters of our business, as well as our Oshodi business unit, because of electricity supply and issues of indebtedness.

“This is wrong. Other locations around Oshodi, where we provide services to the Air Force base, have records showing that in the last 10 years, their bill has accumulated over N4 billion. Despite several appeals, they have not made efforts to pay, and they seem to believe it’s their entitlement to use electricity for free.

“Over time, we have reminded them that we don’t receive government subvention in this organization, it is a privatized entity. As such, the inefficiencies that may appear on our part are due to people like the Air Force base and the debt they owe our business.

“They came to do this after giving us barely 48 hours’ notice to reconnect. The last time I checked, we live in a democracy. Some of you may be aware that we were recently told in the media that bombs and explosives are at that location. We were threatened that what happened in 2002 could happen again if Ikeja Electric does not restore supply to the cantonment.

“For us, that is blackmail. As I speak with you now, I have a fractured leg. They molested and assaulted our staff, not to mention some members of the newsmen who were with us that morning. They also drove away about 16 of our vehicles, with our drivers at the wheel.

“We call on the Chief of Armed Forces and the President to intervene and address this crisis before it escalates further. We want justice as this is unfair to us as individuals, as Nigerians, and even more so as an organization in the business of providing utilities. We are no longer safe.”

Speaking further, he said: “As it stands, we pray this does not affect the environment. However, the cantonment is on a feeder that is currently shut down.

“But they are not the only ones on that feeder. That is all we could do because they won’t allow our technicians to access their facility to disconnect them. So, the best we can do is to shut down the feeder for now.”

On his part, the AOC, Logistics Command, who visited the scene after the dust had settled, described the incident as unfortunate.

He said: “We tried to ensure that our men are always under positive control at all times. On our part, we will investigate what has happened, and the personnel involved will be tracked and sanctioned appropriately.