IKEDC Invades Community With Armed NSCDC Officers

RESIDENTS of Oke-Abiye in Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have condemned the harsh treatment meted to them by the officials of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), with the invasion of the community by armed officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

According to eyewitness account, IKEDC officials stormed the community a fortnight ago with 15 armed NSCDC to force customers to pay their bills or get disconnected immediately.

The Assistant Secretary of the Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. Olubowale Damilola, who spoke with The Guardian said for the period the drama lasted, the NSCDC officials, maltreated and harassed the residents, especially women, until the CDA officials and the elders’ forum prevailed on them.

While stating that the community never attacked the officials, Olubowale noted that the offensive was due to IKEDC’s plan to disconnect houses from the power grid, in spite of epileptic power supply and unfulfilled promises made to the community. He added that the community doesn’t deserve such treatment.

Said he, “Since 2002 that we were connected to the power grid, they have not invested anything at all. They have not invested on the power infrastructure despite the challenges. We have complained but they do not respond.
We also complain of over billing.
“For instance, at 15 Igboora Street, there is a pole that has become a death trap; they are demanding N70, 000 from us before they could replace it after we complained.

Olubowale lamented that since that day, when the CDA prevailed on them to leave the community, they have not had electricity supply. “Even before then, what we get is two hours of light per day.
“We have challenges of poor power supply; over-billings (the smallest house is paying N5, 000 per month); poor maintenance of transformer; poles, cables. We are demanding for more prepaid meters. They want to reap where they have not sown,” he stated.