Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has raised a grave alarm over the escalating rate of vandalism targeting its electricity infrastructure across its franchise areas, lamenting the destruction of critical assets, mounting financial losses, and the tragic loss of at least five lives in incidents linked to the criminal acts over the past three years. The company, in a statement signed by Angela Olanrewaju, Coordinating Head of Corporate Services, on August 19, 2026, detailed the devastating impact of the destruction and theft of electricity assets, including transformers, power cables, conductors, poles and other distribution equipment .
According to IBEDC, the vandalism has resulted in substantial revenue losses through unbilled energy — electricity that could neither be distributed, consumed nor billed because of damaged infrastructure. The company also said it had incurred huge costs replacing, repairing and restoring critical facilities, a financial burden that continues to undermine its investments in network expansion and service reliability .
Speaking on the development, IBEDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Deolu Ijose, described the rising incidents as a serious threat to electricity supply, public safety, economic activities and national development. "The increasing rate of vandalism targeting electricity infrastructure is deeply troubling and unsustainable. Beyond the enormous financial implications, these criminal activities continue to disrupt power supply to millions of customers, destroy critical national assets and expose communities to significant safety risks," Ijose said .
The IBEDC boss stressed that electricity infrastructure remains a critical national asset that requires collective protection from all stakeholders, including security agencies, host communities, traditional institutions, the media and governments at all levels. He urgently called on these bodies to strengthen collaboration with IBEDC in identifying, apprehending and prosecuting those responsible for the criminal acts .
The alarm comes amid a broader pattern of infrastructure vandalism that has plagued Nigeria's power sector for years. In May 2026, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun met with IBEDC management and called for stiffer penalties for electricity vandals, describing the trend as a major setback to economic growth and service delivery . In a separate development on August 17, 2026, a vandal was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by an Oredo Magistrate Court in Benin City for the theft of a 200KVA transformer .
IBEDC's appeal for vigilance comes as the company continues to battle incidents that not only disrupt power supply to millions of customers but also endanger lives. The five deaths recorded over the past three years are a stark reminder of the human cost of these criminal activities. Ijose urged residents within the company's franchise areas to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around power installations, substations, transformers and distribution lines to the appropriate authorities .
The growing crisis has also drawn attention to the role of communities in protecting public infrastructure. In some cases, residents have been forced to bear the cost of replacing damaged transformers, a burden that has sparked frustration and debate over the responsibility of distribution companies . However, IBEDC has made it clear that the protection of electricity assets is a shared responsibility that requires collective action from all stakeholders.
As the company continues to grapple with the escalating threat of vandalism, the call for stronger collaboration, stricter penalties and greater public vigilance has never been more urgent. The destruction of electricity infrastructure is not just an economic problem; it is a threat to the safety, well-being and future of communities across Nigeria. The message from IBEDC is clear: the time for collective action is now.
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