Guardians of Order or agents of chaos? When Protectors Become Predators.

On March 6th, 2025, personnel from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) stormed and vandalised the headquarters of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (Ikeja DisCo) in Lagos, Nigeria; It cannot be true that personnel of the NAF searched for the CEO of IKEDC and when she was found, they assaulted her and bundled her into a trunk of a vehicle on the premises? This unprecedented act of aggression by a security agency against a civilian organization has sent shockwaves through the nation, raising serious questions about military conduct, civilian-military relations, and the rule of law in Nigeria. Essentially, this incident raises significant concerns regarding the conduct of security agencies entrusted with safeguarding lives and maintaining order.

A Critical Analysis of the Nigerian Air Force’s Assault on Ikeja Electric 

Armed NAF personnel, led by an officer, stormed IKEDC’s premises around 7:40 am in retaliation for the disconnection of electricity to their military base because of unpaid bills exceeding ₦4 billion. The military personnel assaulted IKEDC staff, journalists, and bystanders, vandalised offices, and seized company assets, including vehicles and electronic devices. From an HRM perspective, the NAF personnel’s alleged actions reveal several critical flaws, highlighting significant issues.

Flaws in the Actions of Security Personnel

• Abuse of Power: Security agencies are mandated to protect citizens and uphold the law. Engaging in vandalism and assault contradicts these fundamental responsibilities.
• Erosion of Public Trust: Such incidents undermine public confidence in security institutions, leading to a perception of impunity and lawlessness among those meant to enforce order.
• Violation of Human Rights: Assaulting civilians and destroying property constitute clear violations of human rights, which security agencies are duty-bound to protect.

This incident involving Nigerian Air Force personnel assaulting Ikeja Electric staff has organisational implications and is likely to have significant long-term impacts on employee morale.

• Decreased sense of workplace and employee safety: Employees may feel vulnerable and unsafe in their workplace, knowing that they could be subjected to physical violence while performing their duties. The assault on IKEDC staff, including the CEO, Mrs Folake Soetan, demonstrates a severe breach of workplace safety protocols. The traumatic experience of being assaulted or witnessing colleagues being assaulted can lead to ongoing psychological distress, affecting overall employee well-being. The incident may prompt employees to seek employment elsewhere, perceiving their current workplace as unsafe.
• Reduced productivity, diminished job satisfaction, and low morale: The psychological impact of the incident may lead to decreased focus, increased absenteeism, and overall lower productivity levels among staff. The fear of potential future attacks and the memory of the incident may undermine employees’ job performance, enjoyment of their work, and commitment to the organisation. The violent intrusion by a state security agency can significantly damage employee morale and trust in the organisation’s ability to protect its workforce. Staff may lose confidence in the company’s ability to protect them, especially if they perceive inadequate responses or preventive measures from management.
• Business Continuity and strained relationships with customers: The destruction of IT infrastructure and theft of company assets can severely disrupt operations, leading to financial losses and decreased service quality. Employees may become more cautious or hesitant in their interactions with customers from military backgrounds, potentially affecting service quality.

In a similar vein, the actions of the NAF personnel have far-reaching implications for Nigerian society. The repercussions of such misconduct by security personnel are profound:

• Deterioration of Civil-Military Relations: Trust between civilians and the military is essential for societal stability. Actions perceived as oppressive can lead to heightened tensions and resistance.
• Economic Impact: Disruptions caused by such incidents can hinder business operations, affecting economic growth and development. Such incidents can deter foreign investment and hinder economic growth by creating an image of instability and lawlessness.
• Encouragement of Vigilantism: When official security forces are threats rather than protectors, communities may resort to self-help measures, leading to increased lawlessness.
• Erosion of Public Trust: When security agencies meant to protect citizens engage in violent and unlawful behaviour, it undermines public confidence in state institutions.
• Rule of Law: The NAF’s disregard for legal procedures in addressing grievances sets a dangerous precedent, encouraging similar actions by other groups.

What Next?? Would there be the usual lack of accountability and consequences for actions?

There are key takeaways for the military and government. As a matter of urgency, there must be swift and transparent investigations into the incident, with appropriate disciplinary actions taken against those responsible. Further to this, (1) to ensure that military personnel respect civilian infrastructure, the government can adopt a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach; (2) to improve communication with civilian organisations and prevent conflicts like the recent incident with Ikeja Electric, the military can implement several strategies.

• Enforce Legal Frameworks: Incorporate international humanitarian law (IHL) into national laws, military rules, and operational guidelines to safeguard civilian infrastructure such as electricity, water, and healthcare facilities. Establish strict penalties for violating these laws to deter military misconduct.
• Regular training on International Human Law (IHL) principles, with a focus on protecting civilian objects and the repercussions of violating those principles, is mandatory for all military personnel.
• Strengthen Oversight and Enhance Military Leadership Accountability: Create independent oversight bodies to monitor military operations involving civilian areas and investigate any incidents of misconduct. Robust accountability mechanisms should be implemented to ensure that individuals and units are held responsible for any violations of civilian rights or damage to infrastructure.
• Establish Civil-Military Liaison Units and Adopt Civilian Harm Mitigation Plans: Develop dedicated liaison units to facilitate communication between the military and civilian organisations. These units can act as intermediaries to resolve disputes without resorting to force. Furthermore, cultivate trust and mutual understanding of responsibilities by regularly engaging with local communities. Implement frameworks like Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plans (CHMR-AP) to identify risks, manage harm, and redress damages caused during operations. In addition, environmental management systems (EMS) can be used to assess and minimise the impact of military activities on civilian infrastructure.
• Promote Transparency: Publicise military policies on civilian protection to show commitment to respecting civilian infrastructure. Also, encourage open reporting of incidents involving damage or harm to civilians, ensuring lessons are learned and integrated into future practices.

 By implementing these measures, the government can foster a culture of respect within the military toward civilian infrastructure, reduce the likelihood of conflicts, and strengthen public trust in security agencies. To improve civilian-military communication, the military needs to the military should deploy community liaison officers to work alongside its forces. These officers would help build trust between the military and civilian organisations. The military must strengthen its training on civilian-military relations, conflict resolution, and adherence to the rule of law. There is a need to establish and have a functioning and trusted clear channel for resolving disputes between government agencies and civilian organisations without resorting to violence. Considering this incident, it is suggested that the military implement effective mechanisms for managing government debts to utility companies to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Lessons from This Incident

This incident highlights the need for peaceful negotiation, and proper channels of communication should always be prioritised over confrontation. Organisations need robust security measures and crisis management plans to protect staff and assets in unforeseen circumstances. The incident underscores the crucial role of journalists in documenting and reporting such events, even at personal risk. To prevent a recurrence, it is suggested that the Government should:

• Take Legislative Action. Enact laws that prohibit military interference in civilian matters and outline severe consequences for violations.
• Establishing transparent processes to investigate and sanction misconduct within the military is imperative.
• Policy Reforms: Reevaluating and reforming policies governing military conduct in civilian contexts can prevent future occurrences.
• Establish an independent civilian oversight committee to monitor and investigate military conduct in non-combat situations. Similarly, implement a comprehensive military program to foster respect for civilian institutions and the rule of law.
• Continuous education on human rights and the rule of law should be integral to military training programs.
• Legal Recourse: Victims of such incidents should have accessible avenues for justice and compensation.
• Create a formal dispute resolution process for government agencies and public utilities to address issues like unpaid bills. Likewise, collaborative initiatives should be developed between security agencies and civilian organisations to foster mutual understanding and respect,
• Promoting Ethical Conduct: Instill a culture of ethical behavior within the military through leadership examples and reward systems for professionalism.

In conclusion, the assault on IKEDC by NAF personnel represents a critical failure of military discipline and civilian-military relations. It serves as a stark reminder of the need for continuous education, accountability, and respect for the rule of law within Nigeria’s security apparatus. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort from both military leadership and governmental authorities to uphold the principles of justice, accountability, and respect for human rights. Only through concerted efforts to address these issues can Nigeria hope to prevent such incidents in the future and maintain public trust in its institutions.