The Nigerian Army (NA) has refuted allegations by the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors (ANED) that soldiers invaded the EKO Electricity Distribution Company’s (EKEDC) substation in Badagry. The allegations were made during an interview with Arise Television on 18 March 2025 by ANED’s Chief Executive Officer.
According to a statement released by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, the incident stemmed from a power surge that caused a fire at Topo Barracks following the restoration of electricity in the early hours of 14 March 2025. The statement clarified that soldiers on duty coordinated with EKEDC personnel to contain the fire, granting the company’s technical staff access to the barracks to resolve the issue.
While a brief misunderstanding occurred between a soldier and an EKEDC staff member, it was promptly resolved. The Army emphasized that no soldier invaded the EKEDC substation or detained any staff member.
The Commanding Officer of the unit has established a Board of Inquiry to investigate the incident and maintain transparency. The Army also criticized Arise Television for airing unrelated footage during the interview, which misrepresented the incident.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to respecting human rights and maintaining positive relationships with host communities and stakeholders.
