The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported a distressing incident of vandalism that resulted in a significant power outage in Yobe and Borno States.
It said Tower T372, situated near Katsaita Village in Yobe State, was deliberately damaged, leading to the collapse of the 330kV transmission tower.
According to Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs at TCN, the collapse subsequently caused tower T373 along the same transmission line route to fall.
He said the incident occurred at approximately 21:18 on December 21, 2023, resulting in a power supply failure in various parts of the Northeast region.
He added that during routine line inspections to identify the cause of the power disruption, TCN engineers discovered the fallen towers.
”Villagers in the vicinity reported hearing a loud explosion before the towers collapsed. Upon closer investigation, engineers found clear evidence of explosive materials used in the vandalization,” he said.
In response to this incident, TCN swiftly mobilized one of its contractors to reconstruct the damaged transmission towers.
Expressing deep regret for the inconvenience caused to the affected states, TCN pledged to take all necessary measures to expedite the restoration of power supply to the affected areas.
Mbah reiterated the urgency of collective efforts to combat vandalism. She appealed to host communities to join hands with TCN in preserving power infrastructures nationwide.
