TCN, Police Arrest Suspect Over Vandalism Of Six Towers Along Yola–Jalingo 330kV Transmission Line

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Chidi Ugwu

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) 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 vandalized.

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.

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.

August 1st, 2026, the Police notified TCN that a principal suspect linked to the vandalism had been apprehended, and a 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.

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.

We strongly condemn the continued vandalism of power transmission infrastructure as it undermines years of investment in the sector.

We appeal to host communities and the general public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity around transmission installations to security agencies or the nearest TCN office. Collective action is essential to protect national grid assets and ensure reliable power supply.