TCN, police arrest suspect over vandalism of transmission towers on Yola/Jalingo power line
TCN Announces Arrest Linked to Vandalism of Transmission Towers
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed the arrest of a suspect involved in the vandalism of six transmission towers along the Yola–Jalingo 330kV transmission line. This follows a collaborative investigation with the Nigeria Police Force.
In a statement released on Wednesday, TCN reported that the vandalized towers, identified as T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003, and T1004, were discovered during a routine inspection by company engineers on July 29, 2026. According to TCN, the inspection revealed that crucial bracing components had been removed, resulting in the loss of approximately 130 tower components and rendering the structures unsafe.
TCN and the police conducted a joint operation in the affected community on July 30, engaging with local leaders to solicit assistance in identifying those responsible for the damage to the national power infrastructure.
On August 1, police informed TCN of the arrest of a principal suspect. Authorities also recovered some of the stolen materials. TCN representatives visited the recovery site to authenticate the items and have called for the suspect to face rigorous prosecution.
Investigators have reportedly gathered valuable information from the suspect and are pursuing additional leads related to the vandalism syndicate. Ongoing investigations by the police continue.
TCN condemned the ongoing vandalism of power transmission infrastructure, emphasizing its detrimental impact on years of investment in Nigeria’s power sector and the overall stability of electricity supply.
The company urged local communities and the public to remain alert and report any suspicious activities near transmission facilities to the appropriate security agencies or to TCN directly. TCN highlighted that protecting critical national infrastructure requires a collective effort from all stakeholders.
