In a disturbing incident, armed personnel from the Air Force Base in Ikeja, Lagos, assaulted a correspondent of PUNCH Newspapers, Dare Olawin, and other journalists on Thursday. The military men attacked the headquarters of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) opposite MITV, Ikeja, Lagos, around 7:40 am.
The journalists were at the office to attend an event at Adiyan, where they were expected to cover the unveiling of a solar project. However, their day took a violent turn when the military men, led by a woman, seized the office and began beating the staff and other people present.
Olawin, alongside a TVC cameraman and another reporter, were beaten and forced to sit on the floor. The military men also took away Olawin’s Android phone, a small Itel phone, and a white power bank, threatening to shoot him if he tried to say anything.
The Air Force personnel blocked the roads leading to the office, giving them a field day to molest those within the premises. The attack lasted for over one and a half hours, during which the military men took engineers and drivers into custody, claiming they would be forced to reconnect their barracks.
According to reports, the officers were at the DisCo’s headquarters to vent their anger over the disconnection of their military base. The incident has raised concerns about the use of force by military personnel and the safety of journalists and civilians.
Ikeja Electric has condemned the attack, stating that they have provided multiple channels for customers to lodge complaints and that wanton attacks on their staff are completely irrational and unproductive. The company has also urged stakeholders to adopt a more civil approach to engagements.