Soldiers beat up PHCN officer because of poor power supply

Workers at Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company say they are scared of going to their offices after some soldiers attached to the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala Barracks, Abeokuta, Ogun State, allegedly beat up one of their workers over “poor power” supply.

Workers claimed that the soldiers, numbering about six and led by Major Musa, stormed the IBEDC substation on March 6 and met one of them, Salau Adekunle, on duty.

They were said to have flogged Adekunle, the substation’s distribution officer, with horse whips.

It was learnt that presently on the average, the barracks and environs got five hours supply daily, which falls short of the soldiers’ expectation.

The victim, whose back bore effects of the flogging, said he ended up in a hospital because of the beating.

He said,
 “I was on duty on that day around 12pm when the soldiers came into our office with horse whips. They told me to get up and without explanation, they started beating me. I had to go to the hospital for treatment. I informed our head office and it promised to do something about it.

“They had come earlier then to threaten us. We reported at our head office and the head of the barracks was petitioned. They complained that they did not get supply regularly, but it is not our fault. They said they would be the ones to determine the number of hours they want power. We told them it was not possible, but they didn’t want to listen.”

An official said they have been living in fear since the incident happened, adding that threats from the soldiers had intensified.

“They (the soldiers) said it would not be threats again, but killing.  Major Musa said he would send soldiers we don’t know. We spoke out because we cannot wait for them to kill us,” he said.

Attempts to speak to the spokesperson in the brigade proved abortive.

 However, an unknown source in the barracks confirmed the beating.

The soldier, who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the press, said,

 “I am aware of it (the attack), but I was not around when it happened. Power supply is not regular in the barracks. We used to have power for eight to 10 hours.”

Major Musa, however, denied leading soldiers to attack the electricity workers.

He said, “All the information is false. You can come to the barracks to get the correct information.”