The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced the arrest of a principal suspect linked to the vandalism of six transmission towers along the Yola-Jalingo 330kV Transmission Line.
The company said part of the stolen tower components has been recovered as security agencies intensify efforts to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate responsible for the attack.
The affected towers, identified as T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003 and T1004, were vandalised after criminals removed critical structural members, posing a major threat to the stability of the transmission infrastructure.
According to TCN, the incident was discovered on July 29, 2026, during a routine patrol by its engineers, who found that the vandals had removed approximately 130 pieces of tower members from the installations.
In a statement issued by its management, TCN said the act created a severe structural risk to the affected towers.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that six of its transmission towers, T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003, and T1004, along the Yola-Jalingo 330kV Transmission Line have been vandalised,” the statement read.
The company said it immediately began working with security agencies to investigate the incident and track down those responsible.
TCN disclosed that on July 30, its officials carried out a joint operation with the Nigeria Police Force within the affected host community.
During the operation, the team met with the village head and youth leaders, requesting their cooperation in identifying and producing the perpetrators.
The company said a major breakthrough was recorded on August 1 when the police informed TCN that a principal suspect had been arrested and some of the stolen tower components recovered.
TCN officials later visited the recovery location to confirm the recovered materials and called for the full prosecution of the suspect.
The company added that the police had obtained useful information from the suspect and were working to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
“Investigations are ongoing,” TCN stated.
The transmission company condemned the continued vandalism of electricity infrastructure, warning that such criminal activities undermine investments in the power sector and threaten the reliability of electricity supply.
It urged host communities and members of the public to remain alert and report suspicious activities around transmission installations to security agencies or the nearest TCN office.
“Collective action is essential to protect national grid assets and ensure reliable power supply,” the company stated.
