Nigerian Army Refutes Allegations of EKEDC Substation Invasion, Sets the Record Straight
The Nigerian Army (NA) has strongly refuted allegations that its soldiers invaded the EKO Electricity Distribution Company’s (EKEDC) substation in Badagry, describing the claims as misleading and an attempt to misinform the public.
The accusation, which was made during an Arise Television interview with the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors (ANED) on March 18, 2025, alleged that soldiers stormed the EKEDC facility in Badagry, detained staff, and disrupted operations. However, the Nigerian Army has categorically denied these assertions, stating that no such invasion occurred.
The Incident: What Really Happened?
According to a statement released by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, the situation in question stemmed from a prolonged power outage that had left the Badagry community—including the Topo Barracks—without electricity for over a month.
After weeks of complaints and reassurances from EKEDC, power was finally restored at 12:30 AM on March 14, 2025. However, almost immediately, a dangerous power surge occurred, triggering a fire outbreak in the barracks at a facility managed by EKEDC. The incident caused panic among residents, prompting soldiers on duty to respond swiftly.
The Nigerian Army clarified that its personnel worked in coordination with EKEDC’s technical staff to contain the situation. The company’s engineers were granted full access to the affected area at 1:00 AM and successfully addressed the issue before leaving at 2:30 AM.
False Claims and Media Misinformation
The Army acknowledged that a misunderstanding did occur between a soldier and an EKEDC staff member during the intervention, but it was immediately resolved amicably within the barracks. At no point, the statement emphasized, did soldiers storm the EKEDC substation, abduct any staff, or disrupt operations.
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Furthermore, the Nigerian Army criticized Arise TV for airing misleading footage that was entirely unrelated to the incident. The broadcasted visuals reportedly showed a completely different event involving non-NA personnel, further distorting the narrative and giving the false impression of a hostile standoff between the Army and EKEDC.
Army Establishes Inquiry, Reaffirms Commitment to Human Rights
To ensure transparency and ascertain the exact cause of the fire outbreak, the Commanding Officer of the unit has constituted a Board of Inquiry to investigate the incident.
The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to upholding human rights and maintaining cordial relationships with host communities and stakeholders. It emphasized that as a professional institution guided by constitutional provisions, the Army does not condone misconduct against law-abiding citizens.
Setting the Record Straight
The Nigerian Army’s response seeks to correct the falsehoods being circulated and ensure that the public is not misled by unverified claims. It also serves as a stern warning against irresponsible media reportage that could damage institutional relationships and sow unnecessary discord.
