The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed the arrest of a suspected vandal following the destruction of six transmission towers along the Yola–Jalingo 330kV transmission line, with part of the stolen equipment already recovered.
The affected towers, identified as T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003 and T1004, were discovered during a routine patrol by TCN engineers on July 29, 2026.
According to the company in a statement, vandals removed about 130 critical bracing members from the towers, leaving the structures vulnerable and posing a serious threat to the stability of the transmission line.
In response, TCN, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, carried out a joint operation in the host community on July 30, engaging the village head and youth leaders while seeking their support in identifying those responsible.
The operation yielded results on August 1 when the police arrested a principal suspect linked to the attack and recovered some of the stolen tower components.
TCN officials subsequently visited the site to verify the recovered materials and urged law enforcement authorities to ensure the suspect is fully prosecuted.
The company said investigators have obtained valuable leads from the suspect and are intensifying efforts to apprehend other members of the vandalism syndicate.
Describing the attack as a major setback to the nation’s electricity infrastructure, TCN condemned the continued destruction of transmission facilities, warning that such acts undermine years of investment in the power sector and threaten the reliability of electricity supply.
The company appealed to host communities and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around transmission installations to security agencies or the nearest TCN office, stressing that protecting critical national infrastructure is a shared responsibility.