21/02/2026
An Open Letter to Hon. Maurice Oripenaye: Bayo Ogoh Calls for Urgent Security Action Over Transformer Vandalism in Igbokoda
To the Executive Chairman of Ilaje Local Government, the Divisional Police Officer in Igbokoda, and the heads of all security agencies within the local government headquarters.
For over fifteen years, Igbokoda sat in total darkness. We all know the toll that took on our local economy, our security, and our daily lives. The recent restoration of electricity was a hard-won victory for this community, but it is now painful to watch that progress being systematically destroyed by a few individuals who clearly do not mean well for our town.
I am writing this because we are currently facing a crisis of vandalism that cannot be ignored. Reports are coming in of people siphoned coolant oil from transformers, shockingly, even on the very street where the Governor resides. Others are busy stripping away armored cables and essential components that keep our lights on. We have seen this pattern before. A few years ago, the solar project on College Road was rendered useless after the batteries and panels were stolen. Today, that area is back in darkness, serving as a reminder of what happens when we let criminals operate without consequence.
This is not just theft; it is sabotage. Every time a cable is cut or oil is drained, someone’s business is crippled, a student’s study time is cut short, and our streets become more dangerous at night. The only reason these people continue to do this is because they haven’t seen anyone truly pay the price for it. When there is no fear of the law, the community suffers.
I am using this medium to urge the Local Government Chairman and all our security agencies to step up their vigilance. We need more than just patrols; we need a clear signal that this will no longer be tolerated. Anyone caught vandalizing a transformer or stealing electrical parts should be dealt with to the full extent of the law. There should be no room for “settling” these cases behind closed doors. If these vandals are not made to face the music without the easy option of bail, they will only get bolder.
We cannot afford to fold our arms and watch Igbokoda slide back into a blackout. If we don’t act now to protect these transformers, we will be back to square one in a few years, and the 15-year struggle to get light back will have been in vain.
Our security agencies have the capacity to stop this, and we are counting on you to protect what belongs to all of us. Let us catch these people and make an example of them before they throw us back into the dark.
Yours in Struggle,
Bayo Ogoh,
Founder, Apex Reporters
