SaharaReporters gathered that the three towns had been in 'total blackout' since February 2022, paralysing the economic, commercial, and social activities of residents in the communities.
Residents of Irese, Aaye and Ikota towns in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State have threatened to shut down the office of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in Akure over the continued power outage in the area.
SaharaReporters gathered that the three towns had been in 'total blackout' since February 2022, paralysing the economic, commercial, and social activities of residents in the communities.
According to some residents, many business owners in the three affected towns have shut down their shops while artisans who depend on electricity to survive have relocated from the communities.
In a protest letter addressed to the Regional Manager of the BEDC, Akure, some leaders of the communities complained vehemently that the power outage has heightened insecurity in the area.
They said several efforts to ensure that the electricity company addresses their plight have been without luck.
The letter, signed by the Olurese of Irese land, Oba Ahmed Destiny Saka, on behalf of the three towns, stated that residents have no other choice but to stage a mass protest to express their grievances at the ‘abysmal service’ provided by BEDC in Akure.
"After exploiting all avenues of amity to bring sanity to our relationship by reinstalling electricity supply to our communities with no success in view, we have no choice but to organise a procession spanning protests to let the world know of the parlous state of electricity supply to our towns," the letter read in part.