The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company has stepped up its campaign against energy theft, vandalism, and attacks on its staff, confirming a string of arrests and fresh legal actions across its network.
In a statement issued on November 24, 2025 and obtained by westernmirror.com.ng, the company disclosed that prosecution has begun against Mrs. Adebola Arowona of Oluyole Estate, Ibadan, following an incident in which an IBEDC team was assaulted during a routine inspection.
The company said its officials visited her residence on November 15 and uncovered clear signs of meter tampering.
What happened next, according to IBEDC, quickly spiraled out of control. Mrs. Arowona, alongside a man the company suspected to be her husband, allegedly resisted disconnection and attacked the officials.
One staff member was reportedly pushed off a ladder. Another was allegedly slapped. The situation, the company said, worsened when Mrs. Arowona picked up a stone and smashed the windscreen of the IBEDC’s Hilux vehicle.
A clip of the confrontation later went viral, prompting public conversations about the growing risks faced by field technicians. Mrs. Arowona has since been arrested and is now facing trial, while police continue to search for the man linked to the attack.
The company said it will not back down saying: “Efforts are ongoing to ensure the culprit is prosecuted. We intend to pursue this case to its logical conclusion to serve as a deterrent to others,” the statement noted.
IBEDC also announced progress on several other energy theft cases, working alongside the Special Investigation and Prosecution Taskforce on Electricity Offences.
A number of individuals and private businesses under the Osun Region have also been lined up for prosecution.
These cases are scheduled to be heard in courts across the company’s franchise area.
Beyond the individual incidents, IBEDC said it is deeply troubled by the rise in energy theft, vandalism, and physical attacks on its staff.
The company restated its zero-tolerance stance, stressing that such actions threaten service delivery and put lives at risk.
IBEDC called on residents to work more closely with its teams and with security agencies, not only to curb illegal activities but also to protect infrastructure that serves entire communities.
The company added that it will continue to invest in upgrades that make its network safer and more reliable, while pushing for accountability from offenders who undermine those efforts.