In a dramatic and symbolic protest, two masquerades led a large crowd of youths through the streets of Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, to express outrage over what they described as an unjustified hike in electricity tariffs and the sudden reclassification of the town’s power supply from Band C to Band A.
Armed with placards and chanting protest songs, the demonstrators gathered at Bareke Roundabout before marching through key parts of the town. Their messages—“Omu-Aran Says No to Band A,” “Bring Us Back to Band C,” and “Omu-Aran Youths Have Spoken Loudly”—captured the community’s strong opposition to the new billing regime. Residents reported steep increases in their March 2025 electricity bills, with charges reportedly jumping from N10,000–N15,000 to between N41,000 and N47,000.
The protesters decried the tariff hike, citing persistent issues with electricity supply. They alleged that many areas in the community continue to suffer from erratic power, and several transformers are either malfunctioning or completely out of service. Despite offers from the police, the group declined any form of security escort, insisting the protest would remain peaceful.
The demonstration extended to notable locations including Olomu Market, Latinwo Market, the palace of the Olomu of Omu-Aran, and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) district office at the Omu-Aran City Complex. Protesters also blocked major roads linking the town to neighboring states, including the Omu-Aran–Kabba and Omu-Aran–Otun Ekiti highways, causing significant traffic disruptions and leaving travelers stranded for hours.
In a statement signed by the President of the Omu-Aran Development Association, Niyi Adeyeye, the community outlined several demands: an immediate reversal to Band C billing, suspension of Band A tariffs, a thorough review of the recent electricity charges, replacement of faulty transformers, an end to community-funded infrastructure repairs, and an independent assessment of IBEDC’s service delivery in the area.
Addressing the demonstrators at his palace, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, urged the youths to maintain calm. He assured them that discussions were ongoing between community leaders and IBEDC officials, and encouraged dialogue as the path to resolving the crisis.
