The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a principal suspect linked to the vandalism of six transmission towers belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) along the Yola–Jalingo 330kV transmission line, in a major breakthrough in the fight against attacks on critical national infrastructure.
According to the TCN, the affected towers—T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003 and T1004—were discovered to have been vandalised during a routine patrol by engineers on July 29, 2026. The vandals allegedly removed approximately 130 critical steel bracing members, severely weakening the structures and posing a significant threat to the stability of the transmission line and electricity supply in the region.
Following the discovery, TCN and the Nigeria Police launched a joint operation within the affected host community on July 30, engaging traditional rulers, community leaders and youth representatives in efforts to identify those responsible. The police later informed the company that a principal suspect had been apprehended on August 1, while some of the stolen transmission tower components were successfully recovered.
TCN officials visited the recovery site to verify the retrieved materials and called for the diligent prosecution of the suspect. The company disclosed that investigators have obtained valuable information from the suspect, which is now being used to trace and arrest other members of the suspected vandalism syndicate. Police say investigations are ongoing.
Condemning the repeated attacks on electricity infrastructure, TCN described the vandalism as a serious threat to the national grid and years of investment in Nigeria’s power sector. The company urged 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 protecting critical power infrastructure requires collective responsibility.
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