The Nigerian Army’s 81 Division has refuted accusations that soldiers invaded an Eko Electric Distribution Company (EKEDC) substation in Badagry after a misunderstanding at Topo Barracks.
Lt Col Olabisi Ayeni, the Division’s spokesman, refuted the claims in a statement released on Wednesday in Lagos.
Ayeni stated that the assertion was made during an interview with the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors, which aired on Arise Television on Tuesday.
He added that the report did not accurately depict the events and appeared to be intended to mislead the public.
“During the Arise TV interview, the repeatedly aired footage depicted an entirely different incident. The soldiers shown were not personnel of the Nigerian Army,” Ayeni noted.
He noted that the footage produced a false narrative implying a hostile clash between the Nigerian Army and EKEDC.
Ayeni claimed that Badagry, encompassing Topo Barracks, had a power outage for more than a month before the tragedy.
“In spite of this, residents of Badagry, including those in the barracks, endured the blackout while receiving repeated assurances from EKEDC,” he said.
The power supply was restored on Friday, March 14, about 12.30 a.m.
However, a power surge followed the restoration, resulting in a fire in the barracks of an EKEDC-managed institution.
Ayeni stated that the fire generated panic, and soldiers on duty promptly collaborated with EKEDC workers to contain the situation.
EKEDC technical staff were allowed inside the barracks about 1 a.m. and left around 2.30 a.m. after resolving the issue.
He underlined that, despite a disagreement between a soldier and EKEDC officials, everything was addressed quickly and calmly.
Ayeni emphasised that no soldier entered EKEDC premises, nor were any EKEDC employees detained or abducted.
He added that the Commanding Officer’s long-standing relationship with EKEDC leadership in Badagry remained unaltered.
The Commanding Officer immediately established a Board of Inquiry to investigate the fire outbreak and ensure complete openness.
“The Nigerian Army, as a reputable institution, upholds human rights and remains committed to lawful conduct,” Ayeni told reporters.
He further stated that wrongdoing against law-abiding persons will never be allowed under any circumstances.
According to Ayeni, the Army prioritises positive relationships with host communities and all stakeholders.
