A storm of outrage is sweeping through parts of Ibadan as residents level damning allegations against the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), accusing some of its staff of operating what many now describe as an “internal sabotage network” responsible for the systematic vandalism of electricity infrastructure.
From Idi Ishin to Alalade, Butter Estate, Ile Anu, and stretching along Liberty Academy in the Oluyole Extension axis, entire communities have been thrown into darkness—not by accident, residents insist, but by what they suspect is a coordinated operation involving insiders.
What was once dismissed as random vandalism has now taken on a more sinister dimension. Residents allege a disturbing pattern: newly repaired transformers mysteriously fail within weeks, freshly installed cables disappear overnight, and attacks often occur with precision timing that suggests prior knowledge of grid layouts and weak points.
“This is no longer ordinary theft,” a community leader said under anonymity. “What we are seeing looks like a well-organized system—one that cannot function without internal compromise.”
Several landlords claim that repeated reports to IBEDC have yielded little more than silence or delayed responses, further deepening suspicion. In some instances, communities reportedly funded the replacement of stolen infrastructure themselves—only for the same assets to be vandalized again, raising serious concerns about who benefits from the recurring cycle.
Even more troubling are fresh complaints from residents who describe the situation as “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” According to these accounts, infrastructure allegedly removed or stolen from one community is suspected to be reinstalled or resold to another area at huge costs—sometimes running into ₦1.5 million and above.
“It feels like they take from one side and sell to another,” a landlord lamented. “We are forced to contribute money, yet the same materials keep disappearing and reappearing elsewhere. Who is really behind this?”
Residents say this cycle has created a shadow economy around electricity infrastructure, where loss, replacement, and repeated billing have become a burden on already struggling communities.
The implications are far-reaching. Small businesses are collapsing under the weight of constant blackouts, households are pushed into hardship, and security risks have escalated as darkness blankets entire neighborhoods night after night.
While these claims remain allegations, the consistency and volume of complaints point to a crisis that can no longer be ignored. Community leaders are now calling for an independent investigation into IBEDC’s operations in the affected areas, including a full audit of personnel, infrastructure handling, and response mechanisms.
Residents hereby call on the high authority of IBEDC to urgently intervene, investigate these disturbing allegations, and restore confidence in the system. They demand transparency, accountability, and immediate measures to halt what they describe as a coordinated exploitation of vulnerable communities.
For many, this is no longer just about electricity—it is about trust betrayed.
Until decisive action is taken, the people of Oluyole Extension and surrounding areas remain trapped in darkness—and in growing suspicion.
The question remains: Who is really pulling the plug on Ibadan?
