Again, vandals destroy two towers on Damaturu-Maiduguri transmission line

Barely a week after the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) rehabilitated and re-stringed four vandalised towers along the Jos–Gombe 330kV transmission line supplying bulk power to substations in the Northeast, another incident of vandalism was reported yesterday, resulting in the destruction of two towers, T193 and T194 on the Damaturu-Maiduguri transmission line.

This latest attack further disrupts the electricity supply in the region, compounding the challenges faced by communities and businesses dependent on stable power.

TCN disclosed this in a statement by its General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, who indicated that the incident occurred around 10:15p.m. on Tuesday night. At that time, the 150MVA power transformer at the Molai substation tripped simultaneously with the 330kV transmission line supplying bulk power to Maiduguri from the Damaturu Transmission Substation.

Recall that in December last year, towers T193, T194, and T195 were destroyed using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). According to TCN, two of the towers affected by the vandalism attack were the same towers that were rebuilt after the destruction last December.

The company emphasised that it is currently assessing the situation to determine the best approach for temporarily restoring the power supply while a contractor is mobilised to rebuild the two transmission towers.

“After the line tripping, efforts were made by TCN engineers to close the Mula Damaturu line to enable bulk transmission of electricity, which failed repeatedly. Early today, however, TCN lines engineers along with security operatives patrolled the line and discovered that towers 193 and 194 along the 330kV transmission line were brought down using an explosive device, whose fragments are scattered at the site of the incident.

“We will continue to do everything possible with the assistance of security operatives to protect our transmission towers and we are also calling upon the government and well- meaning Nigerians to join in the fight against the destruction of our collective national assets,” it stated.