Police arrest suspect as vandals strip six TCN Yola-Jalingo transmission towers

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed the destruction of six transmission towers along the Yola-Jalingo 330kV Transmission Line, a critical piece of infrastructure for the nation's power supply. The vandalism occurred during a routine patrol by TCN engineers on July 29, 2026, who discovered that towers T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003, and T1004 had been severely damaged.

According to information shared by TCN on its X handle, vandals removed essential bracing members and carted away an estimated 130 pieces of tower components. This act poses a significant threat to the stability of the transmission towers and the integrity of the national grid. In response, TCN collaborated with the Nigeria Police Force in a joint operation within the host community on July 30, engaging local leaders and youth representatives to aid in identifying and apprehending those responsible.

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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.

The Nigeria Police Force subsequently notified TCN on August 1, 2026, of the arrest of a principal suspect linked to the vandalism. Some of the stolen tower materials have also been recovered. TCN officials visited the site to verify the recovered items and reiterated their call for the full prosecution of the suspect to ensure justice is served. Investigators have reportedly obtained useful leads from the suspect in custody and are actively working to track down other members of the alleged vandalism syndicate.

TCN strongly condemned the ongoing vandalism of electricity infrastructure, labeling it a serious threat to national grid assets and years of investment in the power sector. The company urged host communities and the general public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities around transmission installations to security agencies or the nearest TCN office. TCN stressed that collective action is essential to protect critical power infrastructure and ensure a stable and reliable electricity supply across the country.

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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.