Five Transmission Towers Collapse on Ikot Abasi–Eket 132kV Line Following Severe Vandalism
Oru Leonard
The Transmission CompanFivey of Nigeria (TCN) has announced the collapse of five transmission towers along the Ikot Abasi–Eket 132kV Double Circuit Transmission Line in Akwa Ibom State following severe acts of vandalism.
TCN said the extensive damage was discovered on August 9, 2026, during a routine joint patrol of the transmission line by its linesmen.
According to the company, a preliminary assessment showed that critical structural bracing members had been deliberately removed from Towers N9, N10, N11, N12, N13 and N15, resulting in the collapse of five towers.
Further inspection, TCN said, revealed that structural members had also been removed and stolen from seven other towers along the same transmission corridor.
The affected towers have consequently been rendered structurally compromised, creating the risk of additional collapses along the line.
To minimize the impact of the incident on electricity supply, TCN said the transmission network has been reconfigured to prioritize power supply from Ibom Power.
The company added that its management was mobilizing an urgent intervention to reconstruct the affected sections of the transmission line.
TCN also disclosed that security agencies had been notified to assist with investigations and strengthen security measures to prevent further vandalism along the transmission route.
The company condemned the incident as an act of sabotage, stressing that such attacks pose a serious threat to the stability and reliability of the national electricity grid.
TCN reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a robust and reliable transmission network and urged relevant stakeholders and communities along transmission corridors to support efforts to protect critical electricity infrastructure.
(TCN Media, August 14, 2026)
