How IBEDC officials made me lose my pregnancy - Adebola Arowona

 How IBEDC officials made me lose my pregnancy - Adebola Arowona

An Ibadan resident, Mrs. Adebola Arowona, has shared her emotional account of events surrounding an altercation with officials of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), during which she claims she was assaulted and subsequently lost her pregnancy. 

Her account comes after IBEDC alleged that she attacked its staff during an operation in her area.

Speaking with journalists, Adebola said she decided to tell her story publicly because of the trauma she has endured. 

According to her, the incident started on November 8, 2025, when IBEDC officials first visited her residence to check her meter.

“They were in my house for almost an hour and said they didn’t find anything,” she recalled. “But one of them later asked for ₦300,000, he asked me to send it to his Opay account, but I refused because I do not know what I was asked to pay for."

She also alleged that one of the officials made inappropriate advances toward her. “Earlier, he asked if I would date him,” she claimed. “I told him no, that he should focus on what he came to my compound to do.”

Adebola said after they left she became worried which made her to visit the IBEDC office at BCJ, where she was told her meter would be relocated. 

She explained that she visited another branch during the week but was informed that officials were not available at the time.

She said: "I made several calls and a visit to Ibedc for the relocating of meter but they insisted that it will be done before the month runs out."

According to her, the situation escalated on November 15, when IBEDC personnel returned.

“They didn’t knock,” she said. “They went straight to my pole and cut my light.”

Adebola said she stepped outside to take a photograph of the ID card of the official who disconnected her power supply. She alleged that as she attempted to do this, the situation turned violent.

"When I came outside and the man had already packed the ladder aside, I just wanted to snap his ID card and he slapped me,” she said. “He punched me and beat me mercilessly. I started bleeding immediately because I was pregnant.”

According to Adebola, she suffered blows to the face that left her unable to open her left eye. She said it was at that moment she realized she had lost the pregnancy.

“I knew something was terribly wrong,” she said quietly. “I felt the bleeding, and I knew I had lost my baby. It was a very painful experience.”

She added that in the struggle, she held onto the shirt of the official who allegedly struck her, insisting he must be held accountable. 

Adebola said she eventually threw a stone in fear when, according to her, it appeared their vehicle was moving toward her.

“I held onto a stone to defend myself. When I saw their vehicle coming toward me, I threw it. It hit the windscreen,” she explained.

Adebola also alleged that some eyewitnesses who filmed the altercation were seriously warned.

“People came out and recorded what happened,” she said. “But the officials warned them not to speak up or the whole area would suffer for it.”

Following the incident, Adebola said she went to the police station in Oluyole before proceeding to another station.

“I was still bleeding when I got there,” she stated. “The female police officer had to check on me in the toilet because the bleeding was serious.”

She also expressed concern over her meter records, alleging that her payment history disappeared from the IBEDC app after the incident.

“My meter is just a year old, and I pay my bills every month,” she said. “I noticed that my payment history had been cleared from the app, but I still have my paper receipts.”

In its reaction, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company claimed that its officials were assaulted during an operation and maintained that a case had been opened.

The company said it intends to pursue the matter legally, noting: “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.”

IBEDC also alleged that the customer’s meter had been tampered with — a claim Adebola strongly denies.

As both sides present differing accounts, residents and stakeholders await the outcome of investigations by the authorities. 

Meanwhile, Adebola says her greatest pain remains the loss of her pregnancy. “I just want justice,” she said. “I lost my baby. That pain is something I will never forget.”