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Military Assault on Power Workers Sparks Outrage Over Abuse of Authority
Reports of violent attacks by military personnel on staff of electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in Lagos State have sparked national concern, with many decrying the incidents as a gross abuse of power and a violation of democratic norms.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The incidents, which involved soldiers and Air Force officers allegedly assaulting electricity workers over power outages in their barracks, have raised serious questions about military conduct and civil-military relations. Despite denials from military authorities and efforts to downplay the events as isolated, evidence points to coordinated attacks that resulted in injuries and the hospitalization of at least two DisCo employees.
One such incident occurred on March 14, 2025, at the Badagry Injection Substation where soldiers from the 15th Field Engineers Regiment in Topo town assaulted staff of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC). Another earlier attack was reported on March 9, when personnel from the Sam Ethnam Air Force Base stormed the Ikeja Electricity Company’s headquarters in Alausa, Lagos, in a military truck and OP-MESA vehicles.
In the Badagry case, the soldiers forcibly removed two staff members, who were reportedly tortured. The invasion caused security personnel, including officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to flee.
The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) confirmed both incidents and explained that persistent outages were due to a feeder tripping under excessive load. The association added that EKEDC had already briefed Lt. Col. S. Lawan, the commanding officer of the affected barracks, about ongoing transmission network upgrades that disrupted power supply.
Despite being informed, the attacks still occurred, raising questions about the chain of command and whether the commanding officer approved or was aware of the actions taken by his men.
Electricity supply issues require technical interventions and patience—not intimidation or violence. Experts have noted that the solution to the outages involved reducing the feeder load or replacing it with a higher-capacity unit, tasks which were already underway before the attacks.
There are also unresolved issues surrounding unpaid electricity bills by the military barracks involved. These financial disputes, as well as supply challenges, should be resolved through official dialogue rather than coercion.
The two assaults underline the increasing tension in Nigeria’s power sector and should serve as a wake-up call to the Ministry of Power, DisCos, and regulatory agencies. As service delivery continues to deteriorate, public frustration is mounting—creating an environment where force is mistakenly seen as a solution.
While the military’s actions are condemnable, the broader crisis in Nigeria’s electricity sector cannot be ignored. More than six decades after independence, the country still grapples with unstable power supply, poor infrastructure, and inefficient service delivery—even after the privatization of the sector.
In many communities, citizens pay for transformers and bear maintenance costs, despite being charged for electricity. The failure of the government to ensure stable power, coupled with DisCos’ underperformance, has deepened public dissatisfaction.
The military must uphold the rule of law and protect, not harm, civilians. Similarly, DisCos must invest in infrastructure and improve responsiveness. Government regulators must enforce payment compliance across all institutions, including the military, as DisCos now operate as private businesses, not public utilities.
Under no circumstance should electricity workers be assaulted. Grievances must be addressed through proper legal channels—not through violence.
The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has appealed to residents of Abia State and other road users along the Aba–Azumini highway to protect the newly completed road from activities that could damage it.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
FERMA’s South-East 2 Zonal Director, Suleiman Mohammed Omonowo, issued the warning during an inspection of the project, cautioning against the burning of tyres during celebrations, which he said could damage the road surface.
He noted that destructive practices by some youths and community members often contribute to the early failure of road projects across the country.
“Our advice to road users, especially indigenes, is to protect the road from destruction. Let nobody come and destroy it or burn tyres in the name of celebration,” he said.
Omonowo said the Aba–Azumini highway was previously in a very bad condition before FERMA intervened, describing it as a death trap for commuters and residents.
He also expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done on the project, adding that drainage structures such as catch pits would help prevent flooding and extend the lifespan of the road.
According to him, the highway serves as a major link between Aba, several Abia communities, and Cross River State, carrying heavy traffic daily.
He urged local construction firms to improve on quality delivery to compete effectively with foreign contractors.
Meanwhile, the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer in Abia State, Festus Okafor, said FERMA workers have not faced harassment or violence from residents during operations in the state.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Yobe State Command, has declared a 30-year-old inmate wanted after he escaped following a road accident involving a prison transport vehicle.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The incident reportedly occurred on April 13, 2026, while inmates were being conveyed from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Potiskum to Damaturu.
In a statement issued in Damaturu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Abdullahi Adamu, said the vehicle conveying the inmates was involved in a crash during the journey.
He said the accident happened while efforts were ongoing to rescue those affected.
The escaped inmate was identified as Dahiru Mohammed, with prison number J/1539/24, who was admitted into custody on November 29, 2024.
The Correctional Service described him as dangerous and warned members of the public not to have any form of contact with him.
It urged residents to report any useful information that could lead to his re-arrest to the nearest security agency.
Authorities also cautioned that harbouring a fugitive is a criminal offence punishable under the law.
The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the University of Ibadan (UI) to reinstate three students suspended over their participation in a protest against tuition fee hikes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Nkeonye Maha set aside the decision of the university’s Central Student Disciplinary Committee, ruling that the students were denied fair hearing during the disciplinary process.
The court held that the failure to allow the students call witnesses and present evidence violated their constitutional right to fair hearing, rendering the sanctions against them invalid.
The affected students — Aduwo Ayodele, Mide Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus — were suspended on July 14, 2025, after taking part in a protest against increased school fees approved by the university’s governing council.
Dissatisfied with the suspension, they approached the court, arguing that the disciplinary proceedings breached their fundamental rights and due process.
They asked the court to quash the suspension, reinstate their studentship, and award damages for alleged rights violations.
In her ruling, Justice Maha agreed with their arguments, stating that the university’s actions failed to meet the standards of natural justice.
Following the judgment, rights group CAPPA hailed the decision, urging the university to comply fully, reinstate the students, and issue an apology.
The group said the ruling reinforces constitutional protections for freedom of expression and serves as a warning against the suppression of student protests in tertiary institutions.
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