By Elizabeth ADENUGA
Normalcy has returned to Ilesa after some irate youths had embarked on a violent protest over Monday’s disconnection of electricity to some areas in the community, especially Bolorunduro and Olomilagba.
TBI Africa said that the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rampaging youths had on Thursday beaten up some IBEDC staff and journalists in the course of the protest while the electricity company’s facilities were vandalised.
NAN’s visit to some of the troubled areas in Ilesa on Wednesday, however, revealed calm although electricity had yet to be restored.
Areas still affected include Isokun, Oke-Oye, Odundun, Igbaye, Ibala, Ilesa, Coca-Cola, Bolorunduro, Irojo, Imo-Ilesa, Oke-Omiru, Ayeso, Okeyin, Ayetoro and Oke-Bukun.
NAN also reports that business activities were going on normally, with banks and other commercial outfits open to customers.
Already, the Osun House of Assembly had indicated its willingness to join the assessment team of IBEDC to evaluate the damage done to IBEDC equipment which resulted in the cutting off of electricity supply to the area.
Mr Najeem Salaam, the Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, had made this known on Wednesday during the sitting of the House Public Petition Committee on the incident.
The IBEDC Regional Manager, Mr Akin Ogunleye, had explained to the lawmakers that electrical equipment, transformer and electricity feeders were damaged by the irate youths.
He said after the assessment of damaged equipment, a directive would be given on restoration of electricity back to the community.
The Speaker, however, appealed for restoration of electricity to the entire area, saying those culpable in the incident were from one local government.
Reacting to the incident, Olayinka Sokoya, the Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association in Ilesa, lamented the non-restoration of power supply to the community.
He said that the power outage had crippled socio-economic activities in the entire Ijesaland.
The legal practitioner also condemned the attack on journalists during the protest, saying “ journalists are the voice of the voiceless and should by all means be protected.’’
“I apologise for this is a barbaric act; it is terrible and condemnable.
“ I pray that such will not repeat itself again and if the perpetrators are found, there is nothing stopping their prosecution,’’ he said.
