The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has stirred heated reactions online after declaring that electricity theft is worse than kidnapping. The controversial statement was made on the company’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, where it said:
“Person wey dey bypass light, worse pass kidnapper. You will soon understand why.”
While BEDC likely aimed to highlight the grave consequences of energy theft on Nigeria’s power sector, the comparison left many Nigerians shocked, with critics accusing the company of being insensitive to the trauma faced by kidnap victims.
However, the context of their statement reveals a deeper frustration within the electricity industry. Energy theft—especially through illegal connections and bypassing of meters—has long been a massive problem, costing discos billions in lost revenue and hampering electricity distribution efforts. According to experts, this silent crime affects everyone: from worsening blackouts to inflating bills for honest consumers.
In a bid to curb this menace, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) earlier in February 2025 imposed stricter fines on offenders, ranging between ₦100,000 and ₦300,000.
Still, critics argue that likening electricity theft to a violent crime like kidnapping is both extreme and tactless. Many believe there are better ways to drive awareness without trivializing the trauma of abduction victims.
BEDC, meanwhile, has yet to clarify its position further—but one thing is clear: the power discourse in Nigeria is heating up in more ways than one.
