The Benin Electricity Distribution Company has stirred controversy after publicly cursing individuals involved in vandalizing transformers and bypassing prepaid meters.
In a post shared Wednesday on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, BEDC wrote: “E no go beta for who dey vandalize transformer and who dey bypass.”
The unusual statement quickly drew mixed reactions from social media users, with many criticizing the company for resorting to curses instead of addressing power supply issues.
Some users shared their frustrations over repeated transformer thefts and the financial strain it places on communities. One user, Orevaogene, wrote in Pidgin: “Ogun go kee una kee una mama, una wey dey tiff the transformer… after people wey contribute buy the transformer, una go still tiff am again.”
Others, however, turned the criticism back on BEDC, questioning its service delivery. A user, 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?”
Another user, Ragnarok, suggested BEDC’s unreliable power supply was partly to blame: “If una dey give light steady, nobody fit go near transformer go vandalize am.”
Osagie Iyoha accused the company of exploiting customers, saying: “Transformers una no dey buy, even cable una no dey buy. Prepaid metre wey una suppose give free, una dey sell am. Light we no dey see, but una must still collect money.”
While BEDC’s post was likely intended as a warning, it has reignited public frustration over longstanding complaints of irregular electricity supply and high costs.
As of press time, the company has yet to respond to the backlash.
