Police arrest suspect as vandals hit six TCN towers in Nigeria

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported the vandalism of six critical transmission towers along the Yola-Jalingo 330kV Transmission Line, an act that poses a significant threat to the power grid's integrity. The company announced the arrest of a principal suspect and the recovery of some stolen tower components as security agencies intensify efforts to apprehend those involved.

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The Transmission Company of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that six of its transmission towers, T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003, and T1004, along the Yola-Jalingo 330kV Transmission Line have been vandalised. The incident was discovered during a routine line patrol by TCN Engineers on 29th July 2026, when it was observed that vandals had stripped critical bracing members from the affected towers, carting away an estimated 130 pieces of tower members. The act posed a severe structural threat to the towers.

The affected towers, identified as T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003, and T1004, were discovered to have had essential bracing members removed by vandals. TCN engineers found during a routine patrol on July 29, 2026, that an estimated 130 pieces of tower members had been carted away, severely compromising the structural stability of the installations.

Following the discovery, TCN collaborated with the Nigeria Police Force for a joint raid within the host community on July 30, 2026. During the operation, community leaders, including the village head and youth leaders, were engaged and urged to cooperate in identifying and producing the perpetrators. This engagement aimed to leverage local knowledge and support in tracking down the criminal syndicate responsible for the attacks.

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Following the discovery, TCN, on 30th July 2026, conducted a joint raid with the Nigeria Police Force within the host community. During the exercise, the team engaged the village head and youth leadership, demanding their full cooperation in identifying and producing the perpetrators.

A breakthrough was reported on August 1, 2026, when police informed TCN of the apprehension of a key suspect and the recovery of a portion of the stolen tower members. TCN officials visited the recovery site to verify the materials and reiterated their call for the suspect's full prosecution to ensure justice. The police reportedly have obtained significant leads from the suspect in custody and are committed to apprehending the remaining members of the syndicate.

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On August 1st, 2026, the Police notified TCN that a principal suspect linked to the vandalism had been apprehended, and that a portion of the stolen tower members had been recovered. TCN officials visited the site to verify the recovered materials and reiterated the call for the full prosecution of the suspect to ensure justice is served.