TCN, Police Arrest Suspect Over Vandalism of Six Towers Along Yola–Jalingo 330kV Transmission Line
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has raised fresh concerns over the vandalism of six transmission towers along the Yola–Jalingo 330kV transmission line, warning that the attack posed a serious threat to the stability of the national electricity grid while confirming the arrest of a principal suspect linked to the crime.
The disclosure was contained in a statement issued by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and signed by its Management, which said the affected towers—T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003 and T1004—were discovered during a routine patrol by TCN engineers on July 29, 2026.
According to the statement, vandals removed approximately 130 critical steel bracing members from the six towers, significantly compromising their structural integrity and putting the transmission infrastructure at risk.
TCN explained that following the discovery, it immediately collaborated with the Nigeria Police Force to launch a joint operation within the affected host community on July 30, during which security operatives engaged traditional and youth leaders to secure their cooperation in identifying those responsible for the sabotage.
The company disclosed that the police later informed it on August 1 that a principal suspect had been apprehended and part of the stolen transmission tower components recovered.
TCN officials subsequently visited the recovery site to verify the recovered materials while urging law enforcement agencies to ensure the suspect is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The company further revealed that investigators had obtained useful information from the suspect that could lead to the arrest of other members of the vandalism syndicate.
“The Police have obtained solid leads from the suspect in custody and remain committed to tracking down the remaining members of the syndicate. Investigations are ongoing,” the statement said.
Condemning the repeated attacks on electricity infrastructure, TCN described the destruction of transmission facilities as a direct assault on national investments in the power sector.
“We strongly condemn the continued vandalism of power transmission infrastructure as it undermines years of investment in the sector,” the company stated.
The transmission company appealed to residents of host communities and the general public to remain vigilant by reporting suspicious activities around transmission installations to security agencies or the nearest TCN office.
According to TCN, protecting transmission infrastructure requires collective responsibility to safeguard national grid assets and ensure a stable and reliable electricity supply across the country.
