When push comes to shove, people show what they are truly made of.

This perhaps, best fits the story of how the residents of Mende/Araromi community in Lagos state fought against the massive metering scam that Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) was allegedly pulling on them.

Speaking on NigeriaInfo FM, some residents of the communities recount how they stood their ground against an exploitative IKEDC.

See below.

Can "Citizen Engagement" work in #Nigeria? The answer is YES. Tune into #OfficeoftheCitizen and hear how Mende Residents did it. #MCLAG

— Tolu Adeleru Balogun (@tolulopeab) May 25, 2016

"Members of the 'Araromi/Mende Residents Consumer Protection Advocates' engaged @IkejaElectric. We hear their story."#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"@IkejaElectric brought us a bill of 18k/month this year – and we got almost no light. That's how our agitation started"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"We often got 22 hours of lights (in a whole month) and we were still being charged crazy bills & they expect us to pay"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"We often got 22 hours of lights (in a whole month) and we were still being charged crazy bills & they expect us to pay"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"The agitation kicked off from a resident who was charged 27k for 3 rooms. That was the last straw that broke our backs"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"We organized ourselves – all affected non-metered residents, and collectively communicated to our Ikeja DISCO."#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"Violence is not advised but we are frustrated! After countless letters, we started to threaten to seize their ladders."#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"Before now, we were 'managing' the situation. And by 2016, we were charged crazy bills for NO electricity. How come?"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"We wrote countless letters to @NERCNG, copied @IkejaElectric and Shomolu Business District…"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"We organized a townhall meeting that held 5th of May. Asides telling us that our analogue meters were unreadable…"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"We came out with a communique to them asking for meters, halted over billings and actual supply of electricity."#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"They also said digital meters were NOT* available to supply to our community."#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"Letters, Townhall meeting, Motorized protests… The Araromi/Mende Residents took a stand."#OfficeOfTheCitizen pic.twitter.com/RzG14J0dbo

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"After our meeting on the 5th of May, they came around to disconnect residents this week – ignoring all we've asked for"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"Our demands. Metering of all residents. Writing off of all outstanding (outrageous & estimated) billings"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"During the townhall meeting, the reps from @IkejaElectric were surprised at our 'audactity' to ask for meters."#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"Why are residents in our area are paying for the inefficiencies of the DISCO?"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"Some residents have paid 25k for single phase meters and 56k for multiple phase meters. Still no electricity supply."#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"We are living in darkness – AND paying for it. @IkejaElectric @NERCNG, why are we paying for your ineffeciencies?"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"I have been paying 30k for a 'room & palour' for months. Commercial billings for 5 years for a residence. Still no fix"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"What other corruption can be more than charging me 17k for a month of NO power supply? @IkejaElectric what's going on?"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"Communities, there is power in your numbers. Organize yourselves & actively engage your services providers. It works!"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

"The Mende story is a great example of the positives of citizens' engagement. Organize, strategize, engage. It works!"#OfficeOfTheCitizen

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 25, 2016

Here are letters Mende residents sent to @IkejaElectric regarding metering. #OfficeOfTheCitizen @EiENigeria #MCLAG pic.twitter.com/jMr6cZAv4M

— Tolu Adeleru Balogun (@tolulopeab) May 25, 2016