The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with the vandalism of six transmission towers along the Yola–Jalingo 330kV transmission line following a joint operation with the Nigeria Police Force.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, TCN said the damaged towers, numbered T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003 and T1004, were discovered during a routine patrol by its engineers on July 29, 2026.

According to the company, the inspection revealed that vandals had removed critical bracing members from the towers, carting away about 130 tower components and leaving the structures severely compromised.

Following the discovery, TCN said it collaborated with the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a joint raid in the affected host community on July 30.

During the operation, officials met with the village head and youth leaders, urging them to assist security agencies in identifying those responsible for the attack on the nation’s power infrastructure.

The company disclosed that on August 1, the police informed it that a principal suspect had been arrested, while part of the stolen tower components had been recovered. TCN officials subsequently visited the recovery site to verify the recovered materials and called for the suspect to be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

TCN added that investigators had obtained useful leads from the suspect, which are being used to track down other members of the alleged vandalism syndicate. Police investigations are ongoing.

Condemning the recurring attacks on electricity transmission infrastructure, the company described the vandalism as a major threat to years of investment in Nigeria’s power sector and the reliability of electricity supply across the country.

It appealed to 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.

TCN stressed that protecting critical national infrastructure is a shared responsibility that requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.
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