Tension escalates as masquerades led massive protest against new electricity billing in top northwestern state

6 days ago 9
  • Youths successful Omu-Aran, led by masquerades, protested against the abrupt summation successful energy bills aft the community's billing authorities moved from Band C to Band A, resulting successful charges of up to N47,000
  • Protesters reason that the assemblage has agelong experienced unreliable electricity, with galore areas suffering from faulty transformers and inconsistent powerfulness supply, making the caller charges unjust
  • Protesters request the reversion to Band C billing, replacement of faulty transformers, and a reappraisal of IBEDC's work successful the area

Irepodun , Kwara state - In a melodramatic crook of events connected Friday, April 12, 2 masquerades led a radical of youths successful Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, to protestation against the abrupt emergence successful energy bills.

The protestation was triggered by the abrupt question of the community's energy billing authorities from Band C to Band A, resulting successful what the protesters described arsenic "outrageous" charges for the period of March.

Tension successful  Top Southwest State arsenic  Masquerades Lead Protest Against High Electricity BillTension successful Top Southwest State arsenic Masquerades Lead Protest Against High Electricity Bill
Source: Twitter

The protesters gathered astatine the Bareke Roundabout successful Omu-Aran, holding placards with messages similar "Omu-Aran Says No to Band A," "Bring Us Back to Band C," and "Omu-Aran Youths Have Spoken Loudly."

Dancing and singing warfare songs, the demonstrators expressed vexation implicit the caller hike successful energy bills.

Allegations of faulty work and excessive charges

The protestors, including the masquerades who led the charge, claimed that the caller Band A billing was unfair, particularly arsenic they alleged that powerfulness proviso to the assemblage had been inconsistent and plagued by unresolved issues.

They further claimed that the caller charges ranged from N41,000 to N47,000 for the period of March, an alarming summation from the erstwhile rates of N10,000 to N15,000 nether the aged Band C regime.

"The determination from Band C to Band A is unjust. It has caused america to endure fiscal strain, and we haven't adjacent seen immoderate betterment successful energy supply. How tin we judge specified precocious bills for a work that is unreliable?" said 1 of the protesters, who spoke connected information of anonymity.

Protest disrupts traffic, youths request contiguous action

The protestation disrupted large streets successful Omu-Aran, including the Olomu Market area, Latinwo Market, and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) territory office.

Protesters besides blocked cardinal highways starring to neighboring states, specified arsenic the Omu-Aran-Kabba Highway and Omu-Aran-Otun-Ekiti Highway, causing agelong delays for motorists and travelers.

Despite attempts by the constabulary to esc0rt the protesters, they rejected the offer, insisting that their connection beryllium heard loudly and clearly.

The youths vowed to proceed the protestation until their demands were addressed.

Community leaders respond to protests

In effect to the escalating protest, the President of the Omu-Aran Development Association, Niyi Adeyeye, issued a connection outlining respective demands, including the reversal of the energy billing from Band A backmost to Band C, replacement of faulty transformers, and the betterment of powerfulness proviso successful the area.

The connection besides called for an autarkic reappraisal of IBEDC's work transportation and the stoppage of "overdraft purchase" connected pre-paid meters.

“Some of our demands see the replacement of faulty transformers starring to inconsistent energy proviso successful cardinal areas, reversion of the billing from Band A to Band C, and a reappraisal of the existent charges,” Adeyeye stated.

Traditional ruler appeals for calm

Tension successful  Top Northwestern State arsenic  Masquerades Lead Protest Against High Electricity BillTension successful Top Northwestern State arsenic Masquerades Lead Protest Against High Electricity Bill
Source: Twitter

The protestors were yet received by the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, who urged the youths to stay calm.

The monarch assured the protesters that assemblage leaders were already successful discussions with IBEDC officials to code the issues.

"I recognize your grievances, and I privation to guarantee you that we are actively engaging with the energy providers. I impulse you each to workout patience portion we enactment towards resolving the matter," said Oba Adeoti.

As the concern remains tense, the protesters person vowed to support up the unit until their demands are met, leaving the assemblage waiting for the result of the ongoing negotiations betwixt the enactment of Omu-Aran and IBEDC.

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