The group also demanded an end to outrageous and unjustifiable electricity bills.
A human rights advocacy group, Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of protesting Ajegunle residents arrested and detained by the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos.
The group also demanded an end to outrageous and unjustifiable electricity bills.
The residents of the Tolu area of Ajegunle in Lagos State have staged a protest in the area in condemnation of the outrageous electricity billing issued to community residents by Eko Electricity Distribution Company.
It was learnt that during the protest, police personnel from the Tolu Police Station on the orders of the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company arrested and detained 10 protesters.
The protesters arrested are Moshood Oshunfurewa (Coordinator of the Ajegunle Peoples Movement, APM), Lateef Adams (member of the Movement for Socialist Alternative), Emeka Bosah (Coordinator of Ajeromi Ifelodun Community Movement, AICOM), Mrs Stella Edegwa (Community activist), Joseph Chukwudi, Mrs Nana Gloria, Mrs Rose, and 3 others.
The group in a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Chinedu Bosah and National Secretary, Shoyombo Monsuru, lamented that the family members of the detained protesters and members of different organisations have visited the police station but the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Etuk Akanyene refused to release the peaceful protesters.
The statement partly read, "The community people, mostly women in the Tolu area of Ajegunle being led by socialist and rights activists had trooped out in a peaceful protest against the outrageous electricity billing issued to community residents by Eko Distribution Company.
"Rather than resolve the demands of the protesting community people, the Nigeria Police of the Tolu Divisional Police on the orders of the management of Eko Distribution Company arrested and detained Moshood Oshunfurewa (Coordinator of the Ajegunle Peoples Movement, APM), Lateef Adams (member of the Movement for Socialist Alternative), Emeka Bosah (Coordinator of Ajeromi Ifelodun Community Movement, AICOM), Mrs Stella Edegwa (Community activist), Joseph Chukwudi, Mrs Nana Gloria, Mrs Rose, and 3 others.
"The Eko Distribution Company just like the other private electricity companies is notorious for issuing unjustified and outrageous electricity bills to amass huge profits. In a country with N30,000 minimum wage, these electricity companies sometimes issue electricity bills to the poor communities in tens of thousands of Naira. There are currently huge debts hanging on the neck of many residents as a result of the sustained outrageous billing imposed on residents.
"Since November 2013 when the power sector was privatized, communities have been plunged into darkness while tariff has gone up steadily. The power companies have also refused to issue prepaid meters to residents in order to issue fraudulent estimated bills.
"In order to sustain this exploitation, the electricity companies rely on the capitalist government and its state force, particularly the Nigerian Police whose men and women have often used brute force against peaceful and innocent protesters.
"Many community residents and activists are currently facing trumped-up charges in different courts. We demand an end to police arrest, detention, and attacks on innocent community people and activists.
"We appeal to working people and pro-people organizations in Nigeria and internationally to join the campaign for the immediate and unconditional release of the protesters.”
"Family members and members of different organizations have visited the Tolu Divisional Police Station but the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Etuk Akanyene refused to release the peaceful protesters, apparently, the order from the Eko Distribution Company is to brutalize and detain the protesters and eventually charge them to court on trumped-up charges. We appeal for protest calls and messages to be sent to CSP Etuk Akanyene 08034448617 with a call to release all protesters,” the statement added.