Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has commended the Omelu Community Vigilante for its vigilance and swift response, which led to the arrest of a suspected vandal allegedly attempting to vandalise a transmission tower along the Benin–Onitsha 330kV Transmission Line. The incident occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 2, 2026, during a routine patrol by members of the vigilante group, who noticed a suspicious individual beneath one of TCN’s transmission towers. The suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Mr. Humphry Anala, an indigene of Auchi, Edo State, residing in Benin City, was allegedly attempting to loosen the tower base bracing when he was apprehended.
Following his arrest, the suspect was handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further investigation. He remains in the custody of the Corps and is expected to be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations. TCN’s statement noted that preliminary findings indicate that the suspect had reportedly been apprehended by members of the same community about two months earlier for a similar alleged offence. On that occasion, he was reportedly released after pleading for leniency following medical treatment, only to be apprehended again for an alleged repeat offence.
TCN commended the vigilance and sustained commitment of the Omelu Community Vigilante in protecting critical national infrastructure and appreciated the continued collaboration of the NSCDC in safeguarding the nation’s transmission assets. The company strongly condemned all acts of vandalism and sabotage against power transmission infrastructure and called on host communities and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities around transmission towers, substations, and other power installations to the nearest security agency or TCN office.
The arrest comes amid growing concerns over the rising incidence of vandalism of power infrastructure across Nigeria, which has been identified as a major cause of frequent national grid collapses. The Benin–Onitsha 330kV transmission line is a critical artery in the national grid, and attacks on such infrastructure pose significant risks to power supply stability across large parts of the country. The Omelu community’s proactive role in apprehending the suspect demonstrates the importance of community involvement in protecting critical national assets and sends a clear warning to would‑be vandals that host communities are no longer willing to tolerate the destruction of public infrastructure. As the suspect awaits arraignment, TCN has reiterated its commitment to working with security agencies and communities to safeguard the nation’s power transmission network and ensure a stable electricity supply for all Nigerians.
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