Two masquerades led youths in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, over alleged outrageous billing and the sudden reclassification of the town from Band C to Band A by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

The protesters converged at Bareke Roundabout, carrying placards with various inscriptions and chanting protest songs. Some of the placards read: “Omu-Aran says no to Band A,” “Bring us back to Band C,” and “Revert Omu-Aran to Band C.”

They alleged that the reclassification led to significantly higher bills for March 2025, with some residents receiving bills ranging from N41,000 to N47,000—up from previous rates of N10,000 to N15,000.

They marched through major areas including Olomu and Latinwo markets, the Olomu palace, and the IBEDC office in the Omu-Aran City Complex.

They also blocked key highways linking the town to neighbouring states, including the Omu-Aran–Kabba and Omu-Aran–Otun Ekiti roads, causing gridlock and delaying travellers for hours.

The protesters vowed to continue until their demands were met.

In a joint statement, the President of the Omu-Aran Development Association, Niyi Adeyeye, and Elder Ranti Adebayo outlined their demands.

These include the replacement of faulty transformers, reversion from Band A to Band C, improvement in electricity supply, suspension of Band A billings, and a review of current charges.

Other demands include an independent assessment of IBEDC’s service delivery in the town, an end to overdraft purchases on prepaid meters, and a halt to requiring residents to buy materials for faulty electrical installations.

They said these issues had long existed before the recent billing adjustment and had worsened the town’s power situation.

The protesters refused police and security escorts, insisting the protest would remain peaceful.

The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, while receiving the protesters at his palace, appealed for calm.

He said community leaders were in talks with IBEDC officials and urged the youths to allow the dialogue process to take its course.

When contacted, the Omu-Aran business manager of IBEDC, A. O. Badmus, declined to comment and referred inquiries to the company’s Kwara State Communication Officer, Gbenga Ajiboye.

Ajiboye explained that electricity regulation falls under the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), not the distribution companies.

He said communities receiving up to 20 hours of power supply daily are automatically classified under Band A by NERC, and Omu-Aran falls into this category.

He described the matter as a commercial issue between a service provider and its customers, adding that discussions were ongoing to resolve it amicably.