Two masquerades led dozens of youths in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, on Friday, April 11, 2025, in a protest against what they described as “outrageous electricity bills” and an unapproved upgrade of their billing classification from Band C to Band A. The protesters gathered at Bareke Roundabout, carrying placards with messages like “Omu-Aran Says No to Band A” and “Bring Us Back to Band C,” while chanting war songs and expressing their dissatisfaction with the sharp increase in power costs.
The sudden reclassification has seen residents’ electricity bills skyrocket from between ₦10,000 and ₦15,000 to between ₦41,000 and ₦47,000, sparking widespread outrage. Protesters argue that the increase is unjust, given the community’s persistent power supply issues and faulty transformers. “This sudden reclassification is unjust. We don’t even enjoy stable electricity, and now we’re paying Band A rates,” one protester lamented.
The protest disrupted traffic on major routes, including the Omu-Aran-Kabba and Omu-Aran-Otun Ekiti highways, as demonstrators marched to key locations like the Olomu Palace and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) district office. The protesters rejected police escort, insisting on a peaceful yet firm demonstration.
The Omu-Aran Development Association outlined the community’s demands, including reversion to Band C, replacement of faulty transformers, improved electricity delivery, and an end to consumer-funded repairs and overdraft purchases on pre-paid meters. They also called for an independent review of IBEDC’s service delivery in the area.
The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, received the protesters at his palace, urging calm and patience. He assured the crowd that community leaders were already engaging IBEDC officials to address the issues and find a resolution to the ongoing concerns.
𝑭𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑬𝑲𝑰𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑬𝑾𝑺 247 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍 : https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAP3AqHLHQdNZ6UeL10