By Godswill Michael
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a suspected vandal linked to the destruction of six transmission towers along the Yola–Jalingo 330kV transmission line, as investigations continue to uncover other members of the syndicate.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Wednesday, saying the suspect was apprehended following a joint operation with the police after engineers discovered extensive vandalism on the strategic power infrastructure.
According to TCN, its engineers uncovered the damage during a routine patrol on July 29, 2026, when they discovered that vandals had removed critical bracing members from six transmission towers—T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003 and T1004.
The company said the vandals carted away about 130 tower members, leaving the affected structures severely compromised and at risk of collapse.
“Following the discovery, TCN, on July 30, 2026, conducted a joint raid with the Nigeria Police Force within the host community. During the operation, the team met with the village head and youth leaders, seeking their full cooperation in identifying and producing the perpetrators,” the statement said.
TCN said the police informed the company on August 1 that a principal suspect had been arrested and that some of the stolen transmission tower components had been recovered.
“TCN officials visited the site to verify the recovered materials and reiterated the call for the full prosecution of the suspect to ensure justice is served,” the company stated.
It added that investigators had obtained valuable intelligence from the suspect.
“The police have obtained solid leads from the suspect in custody and remain committed to tracking down the remaining members of the syndicate. Investigations are ongoing,” TCN said.
The company condemned the persistent attacks on transmission infrastructure, warning that the destruction undermines years of investment in Nigeria’s electricity sector and threatens the stability of power supply nationwide.
“We strongly condemn the continued vandalism of power transmission infrastructure, as it undermines years of investment in the sector,” the statement read.
TCN also appealed to residents of host communities and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around transmission facilities to security agencies or the nearest TCN office.
“Collective action is essential to protect national grid assets and ensure reliable power supply,” it added.
Vandalism of electricity infrastructure remains one of the major challenges facing Nigeria’s power sector, often resulting in transmission disruptions, increased maintenance costs and delayed power restoration.
In recent months, TCN has reported repeated incidents involving the destruction of transmission towers and the theft of critical components across different parts of the country. The company has consistently urged host communities to help protect national grid assets while working with security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.
The latest arrest underscores TCN’s intensified collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to curb attacks on transmission infrastructure and safeguard the national grid.