Tension flared in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area, Kwara State as residents staged a dramatic protest — led by two masquerades — against skyrocketing electricity bills and the abrupt shift in their community’s billing classification from Band C to Band A.
On Friday, protesters converged at Bareke Roundabout, chanting war songs and wielding placards with bold inscriptions such as “Omu-Aran Says No to Band A,” “Bring Us Back to Band C,” and “Omu-Aran Youths Have Spoken Loudly.” The charged crowd marched through major areas, including Olomu Market, Latinwo Market, the Olomu Palace, and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) district office inside the Omu-Aran City Complex.
According to the protesters, the recent migration to Band A — traditionally reserved for areas with near-constant electricity supply — has led to exorbitant charges for March 2025. Bills that previously ranged from ₦10,000 to ₦15,000 reportedly spiked to between ₦41,000 and ₦47,000.
The youth argued that the change was unjustified, citing numerous unresolved issues plaguing the community’s power supply, including faulty transformers and irregular service. They also turned down offers of police escort, opting instead for an unguarded procession that ultimately disrupted major highways such as the Omu-Aran–Kabba and Omu-Aran–Otun-Ekiti roads, causing hours-long traffic gridlocks.
In a statement signed by the President of the Omu-Aran Development Association, Niyi Adeyeye, the community outlined a list of urgent demands:
- Reversal from Band A back to Band C
- Replacement of faulty transformers
- Improved electricity supply across the town
- Suspension and review of the current Band A charges
- Immediate end to overdraft billing on prepaid meters
- Stoppage of consumer-funded repairs and purchases of electrical equipment
The statement also called for an independent review of IBEDC’s service delivery in the area to determine the proper tariff classification.
While receiving the protesters at his palace, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, appealed for calm and urged the youth to give room for peaceful resolution. He assured them that community leaders were already in talks with IBEDC to resolve the matter.
Despite the royal plea, the protesters vowed to sustain their agitation until tangible action is taken.
