Police arrest suspect as vandals strip six TCN Yola-Jalingo transmission towers
August 5, 2026 1:05 pm
The Transmission Company of Nigeria has confirmed the destruction of six transmission towers along the Yola-Jalingo 330kV Transmission Line, with the Nigeria Police Force arresting a principal suspect linked to the incident.
The affected towers, T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003 and T1004, were discovered to have been vandalised during a routine patrol by TCN engineers on July 29 2026.
According to a post obtained from TCN’s X handle on Wednesday, the vandals removed critical bracing members from the affected structures and carted away an estimated 130 pieces of tower components, posing a serious threat to the stability of the transmission towers.
Following the discovery, TCN carried out a joint operation with the Nigeria Police Force on 30 July 2026 within the host community, engaging local leaders and youth representatives to support efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible.
The company said the police later notified TCN on August 1, 2026, that a principal suspect connected to the vandalism had been arrested, while 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.
TCN added that investigators had obtained useful leads from the suspect in custody and were working to track down other members of the alleged vandalism syndicate.
“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,” the company said.
The transmission company condemned the continued vandalism of electricity infrastructure, describing the act as a threat to national grid assets and years of investment in the power sector.
TCN 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.
The company stressed that protecting critical power infrastructure requires collective action to ensure a stable and reliable electricity supply.
Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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