Suspects arrested with vandalised power transmission facilities

The Transmission Company of Nigeria has expressed concerns over the alarming rise in vandalism of transmission installations across the country.

This was as police arrested some vandals with stolen TCN towers.

In a statement on Tuesday, TCN spokesman, Ndidi Mbah, said the growing threat urgently requires the cooperation of all citizens, particularly those in host communities where these installations are located.

According to her, TCN has consistently engaged security operatives, host communities, and local vigilante groups in response to the issue.

“Specifically, between July 1 and August 11, 2024, TCN installations have experienced numerous vandalism attacks in less than six weeks. These incidents are widespread, affecting every transmission region of TCN.

“On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, security operatives apprehended vandals in a blue pick-up van loaded with sacks containing tower members and cables stolen from transmission towers along the Damboa/Maiduguri 132KV transmission line.

“The vandals were arrested by the Nigeria police and are currently in custody at the Damboa police station. They will be transferred to the National Police Force Headquarters in Maiduguri,” she stated.

Mbah said the tower members and cables were stolen from the towers along the Damboa/Maiduguri 132kV transmission line, which is still under reconstruction due to a previous vandalism attack on the same line.

She said, “On August 11, 2024, vandals attacked towers T377, T378, and T379 along the Gombe-Damaturu 330kV transmission line, which is undergoing rapid and urgent repair following a previous vandalism incident involving IEDs on towers T193 and T194. However, two of the vandals were killed by hunters at the Damaturu end of the line.

“On August 3 and 5, 2024, vandals attacked towers along two transmission line routes under the Enugu Region of TCN. The first attack targeted the tower T9 on the Apir-Aliede 330kV transmission line, and the second targeted tower T12 on the Apir-Otukpo-Yandev 123kV transmission line, both passing through Ikpayango Village.

“In response to the first incident, the local vigilante group acted promptly, preventing the vandals from stealing the skywire after it had been brought down.”

Mbah also stated that on August 5, 2024, vandals managed to cut off and steal the yellow phase conductor from towers T11 to T12 along the Apir-Otukpo-Yandev line, which caused a tripping of the 150MVA power transformer at the Apir Transmission Substation.

“TCN engineers responded swiftly by removing the remaining conductors on tower T11, allowing the continued supply of bulk electricity to Yandev, Otukpo, and Takum through the 132kV New Haven-Otukpo transmission line,” she said

She added that the TCN team has successfully sectionalised the affected towers to facilitate repairs while stabilising both ends of the sectionalised network that supplies power to Otukpo, Yandev, and Takum from the New Haven Substation.

She maintained that the 150MVA transformer had been tested and restored.

“On July 24, 2024, in the Osogbo Region, Tower T328 along the 330kV Osogbo-Ganmo line in the Oba-Oke area of Osogbo, Osun State, was vandalised. This incident caused severe structural damage to the tower, leaving it twisted and bent, with insulators at a dangerous angle of 65° to 70°. The damaged and bent tower T328 also affected towers T327 and T329 on either side.

“Despite the precarious condition of T328, the cables remained supported by the bent towers, preventing power outages. The Osogbo Region of TCN has since carried out emergency repair work on the affected towers to prevent their collapse while awaiting the permanent reconstruction of Tower T328.

“TCN has reported these incidents to security operatives, including the military, the police, the DSS, and the civil defence corps. A visit was also made to the Oba of Oba-Oke to emphasise the need for community collaboration in protecting installations within his domain. Additionally, more local vigilantes have been employed to monitor the facilities,” Mbah explained.

In the Benin Region of TCN, on July 19, tower T449 at Oluku Community along the Ihovbor/Benin 330kV transmission line was reportedly vandalised, with the three legs and supporting members cut off.

On July 25, tower T72 along the Benin/Egbin 330kV transmission line, also in Oluku Community, Benin, was vandalised, with the four legs of the tower (B6N) cut off. TCN’s engineers reinforced the tower legs to prevent collapse.

It was added that in the Port Harcourt Region of TCN, vandals attacked Towers T98 and T99 along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line on July 29, causing them to collapse in the Igbogene Community of Bayelsa State.

On August 3, Tower T97 along the same line route also collapsed due to instability from the adjacent collapsed towers, compounded by storm and wind effects, it was stated.

“Recently, transmission lines in the North East, under the Bauchi Region of TCN—stretching from the Jos 330kV Transmission Substation to Bauchi, through Gombe, Damaturu, and up to Maiduguri—have suffered multiple vandalism attacks at various points. Additionally, several other less severe acts of vandalism have also occurred.

“We reiterate the need for collective action against vandals of power installations of any kind and remain committed to working with communities and security agencies and vigilantes to safeguard power installations. The fight against vandalism remains pivotal to maintaining a stable power network,” she concluded.