The Benin Electricity Distribution Company has taken an unusual approach to addressing vandalism and electricity theft, publicly cursing those responsible for damaging transformers and bypassing prepaid meters.
In a post shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, BEDC wrote: “E no go beta for who dey vandalize transformer and who dey bypass.”
The post quickly ignited reactions from social media users, with many criticizing the electricity provider for its stance. Some argued that the company should focus on improving power supply rather than issuing curses.
A user, Orevaogene, expressed frustration over repeated transformer thefts and the financial burden on communities: “Ogun go kee una kee una mama, una wey dey tiff the transformer… after people wey still contribute buy the transformer done still contribute again to replace the part, una go still bring the part wey una fess tiff come fix am again, still collect workmanship and beer money on top light wey we no still dey see.”
Another user, Joe Crack, was surprised by the company’s language, stating: “See wetin company dey talk online.”
Some users turned the criticism back on BEDC, blaming it for poor service delivery. Kabiru Sokoto wrote: “Wetin go around, go come around… you collect money, you no give light, how e wan take better for your papa too?”
Ragnarok also challenged the electricity company’s approach: “BEDC, why una dey inadvertently curse una self? If una dey give light steady, no one would be able to go near a high-voltage transformer and vandalize it.”
Another user, Osagie Iyoha, accused the company of exploiting customers: “Transformers una no dey buy, even cable kpa-kpa una no dey buy. Prepaid metre wey una suppose give customers, una go dey sell am at exorbitant prices. Light we no dey see, but una must still collect money. How life wan take better for una?”
While BEDC’s post was likely intended as a deterrent, it appears to have sparked more outrage over longstanding complaints of irregular power supply and high electricity costs.
The company has yet to respond to the backlash.
