A disturbing incident unfolded at the Ikeja Electric office in Lagos when a group of Nigerian Air Force officers allegedly stormed the premises, vandalising properties and causing panic among staff. The invasion, captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, has sparked outrage and raised questions about military conduct and accountability.
According to eyewitness accounts and the CCTV evidence, the uniformed officers arrived at the Ikeja Electric office in the early hours of the incident, reportedly in response to a dispute over an undisclosed matter. Sources within the company, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that the situation escalated quickly after a heated exchange between the officers and staff members.
The footage, which has since circulated widely, shows the officers forcibly entering the office, overturning furniture, smashing windows, and damaging electrical equipment. Staff members were seen fleeing the scene as the rampage unfolded, with some attempting to reason with the intruders to no avail.
An official of Ikeja Electric, who declined to be named, described the incident as “an unprovoked attack” on the company’s property. “We were taken by surprise. These are officers meant to protect citizens, yet they turned on us, destroying everything in sight. This is unacceptable,” the official said.
When contacted, a spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Group Captain Adebayo Okunola, said the military was aware of the incident and had launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding it. “The Nigerian Air Force does not condone acts of indiscipline or lawlessness. If these officers are found guilty, they will face the full weight of military justice,” Okunola stated.
Residents and civil society groups have condemned the incident, calling for swift action to address what they describe as a growing trend of military overreach. “This is not the first time we’ve seen security personnel take laws into their own hands. The authorities must act decisively to stop this impunity,” said Chinedu Okeke, a human rights activist.
The management of Ikeja Electric has vowed to pursue legal redress, stating that the damages incurred run into millions of naira. “We are cooperating with the police and other relevant authorities to ensure justice is served,” a statement from the company read.
As of press time, the police had yet to make any arrests, though an investigation is said to be underway. The viral CCTV footage has intensified public pressure for accountability, with many Nigerians taking to social media to express their dismay over the conduct of the officers involved.
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