TCN, Police Arrest Suspect Over Vandalism of Six Transmission Towers on Yola–Jalingo Power Line
Oru Leonard
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, has arrested a principal suspect in connection with the vandalism of six transmission towers along the Yola–Jalingo 330kV transmission line, recovering part of the stolen infrastructure.
According to a statement issued by TCN Management on Wednesday, the affected towers—T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003, and T1004—were discovered to have been vandalized during a routine patrol by TCN engineers on July 29, 2026.
The company said the vandals removed about 130 critical bracing members from the towers, leaving the structures vulnerable and posing a serious threat to the integrity of the transmission line.
Following the discovery, TCN and the Nigeria Police conducted a joint operation on July 30 within the affected host community, where they met with the village head and youth leaders, urging them to assist in identifying those responsible for the sabotage.
The statement disclosed that on August 1, the Police informed TCN of the arrest of a key suspect linked to the crime. A portion of the stolen tower components was also recovered, with TCN officials visiting the location to verify the recovered materials.
TCN commended the Police for the breakthrough and called for the diligent prosecution of the suspect to serve as a deterrent to others involved in the destruction of critical national infrastructure.
The company added that investigators have obtained useful leads from the suspect and are actively pursuing other members of the vandalism syndicate.
Condemning the persistent attacks on electricity transmission infrastructure,
TCN warned that such acts undermine years of investment in Nigeria’s power sector and threaten the stability of electricity supply across the country.
The company appealed to residents of host communities and the general public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around transmission installations to security agencies or the nearest TCN office, stressing that safeguarding national grid assets requires collective responsibility.
