The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed that a major power outage was averted following the swift intervention of security operatives and community vigilantes, who foiled an attempt by vandals to dismantle three critical transmission towers along the Mando–Jos 330kV double-circuit line in Kaduna State.
According to a statement signed by TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the affected towers—T297, T298, and T299—were already tampered with by vandals who removed several tower members, weakening their structural integrity. However, prompt action by the security team prevented the towers from collapsing and safeguarded power supply across the region.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, October 5, 2025, led to the arrest of several suspects, including the alleged vandals and potential buyers of the stolen materials. They are currently in police custody in Saminaka, Kaduna State, as investigations continue.
TCN disclosed that its engineers have since mobilized to the site to carry out emergency reinforcement work to stabilize the affected structures and restore full transmission safety along the corridor.
Commending the collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community vigilantes, the company urged residents living near transmission lines to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement around power infrastructure to security authorities.
“This swift response prevented what could have been a serious system disturbance with widespread blackout implications. We call on communities nationwide to see the protection of these critical assets as a collective responsibility,” Mbah said.
The attempted vandalism underscores the persistent threat posed to Nigeria’s power infrastructure, where theft and destruction of transmission components continue to hamper efforts toward stable and efficient electricity supply.
TCN reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with security agencies and host communities to ensure the continued safety and reliability of the national grid.
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