In a dramatic turn of events, two masquerades led a group of protesting youths in Omu-Aran, Irepodun LGA of Kwara State, on Friday over what they described as exorbitant electricity bills and the abrupt shift of the community’s tariff classification from Band C to Band A.
The protest began at Bareke Roundabout, where demonstrators gathered carrying placards with bold messages such as “Omu-Aran Says No to Band A”, “Revert Us to Band C”, and “Our Voices Must Be Heard”. The rally was charged with chants and traditional war songs, capturing the attention of residents and passersby.
According to the youths, the reclassification led to a significant spike in electricity bills for March 2025, with charges jumping from previous rates of N10,000–N15,000 to as high as N41,000–N47,000. Protesters claimed the increase was unjustified, especially given the poor power supply and persistent transformer issues plaguing several parts of the community.
They rejected offers of police escort and marched through major landmarks, including Olomu Market, Latinwo Market, the Olomu palace, and the IBEDC District office in the Omu-Aran City Complex. In a move that disrupted transportation, they also blocked the Omu-Aran-Kabba and Omu-Aran-Otun-Ekiti highways, stranding motorists for hours.
The protesters vowed to sustain the demonstrations until their demands are met by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and local authorities.
In a statement, Niyi Adeyeye, President of the Omu-Aran Development Association, outlined the protesters’ key demands: restoration to Band C, replacement of malfunctioning transformers, suspension of Band A charges, review of current billing rates, and an independent evaluation of IBEDC’s service delivery in the area. They also called for an end to overdraft energy purchases and the practice of residents funding repairs of faulty electricity infrastructure.
Addressing the demonstrators at his palace, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, urged calm, assuring them that discussions were already underway with IBEDC officials to find a resolution.
(Source: Punch)
