Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a principal suspect in connection with the vandalism of six transmission towers along the Yola–Jalingo 330kV transmission line, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The affected towers—designated T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003 and T1004—were discovered to have been vandalised during a routine patrol by TCN engineers on July 29, 2026. The vandals removed critical bracing members from the structures and carted away an estimated 130 pieces of tower components, posing a serious threat to the stability of the transmission line and the reliability of power supply to Gombe, Yola, Jalingo and surrounding communities.
Following the discovery, TCN carried out a joint operation with the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 2026, within the host community, engaging local leaders and youth representatives to support efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible. The breakthrough came on August 1, 2026, when police informed TCN that a principal suspect connected to the vandalism had been arrested and some of the stolen tower materials 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 that investigators had obtained useful leads from the suspect in custody and were working to track down other members of the alleged vandalism syndicate.
TCN condemned the continued vandalism of electricity infrastructure, describing the act as a serious threat to national grid assets and years of investment in the country's power sector. The company urged host communities and the general public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around transmission installations to security agencies or the nearest TCN office, stressing that protecting critical power infrastructure requires collective action to safeguard the national grid and ensure a stable and reliable electricity supply across Nigeria.
The arrest comes amid a troubling rise in attacks on power transmission infrastructure across the country. In 2025 alone, TCN recorded 131 vandalism incidents across its network. In 2024, a total of 86 towers were vandalised, with 26 completely destroyed, forcing the federal government to spend N8.8 billion on repairs and restoration. The persistent targeting of transmission towers has repeatedly plunged parts of the North-East into darkness and disrupted economic activities. As investigations continue, the police have obtained solid leads and remain committed to tracking down the remaining members of the syndicate, while TCN has called for the full prosecution of the suspect to serve as a deterrent to others who would seek to undermine the nation's power infrastructure.
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