- The Nigeria Police Force has arrested vandals who stole tower members and cables from the Transmission Company of Nigeria along the Damboa-Maiduguri 132-kilovolt line. The suspects are currently in custody.
- The stolen equipment, found in a truck during an operation on August 7, 2024, was taken from facilities under reconstruction following a prior vandalism attack.
The Nigeria Police Force has successfully detained vandals involved in the theft of critical equipment from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) along the Damboa-Maiduguri 132-kilovolt transmission line in Borno State. The arrest, which occurred on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, was confirmed in a statement released Tuesday by Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs at TCN.
According to the statement, the vandals were found in possession of tower members and cables packed in a blue pickup truck. The stolen items were taken from TCN’s facilities, which are currently undergoing reconstruction following a previous act of vandalism. The suspects are now in custody at the Damboa Police Station and are set to be transferred to the National Police Force Headquarters in Maiduguri for further investigation and processing.
Ndidi Mbah highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by TCN due to repeated attacks on its infrastructure. The Damboa-Maiduguri 132kV transmission line, targeted by the recent theft, is still under repair from an earlier vandalism incident. The current theft underscores a troubling pattern of attacks on Nigeria’s critical electricity infrastructure, which has significantly impacted the reliability of power supply in the region.
Vandalism has been a persistent problem for Nigeria’s power sector. For instance, on June 12, 2024, vandals targeted TCN’s towers along the Damaturu-Maiduguri 330kV Single Circuit Transmission Line, causing a major blackout in Maiduguri. Such attacks not only disrupt the power supply but also hinder ongoing efforts to restore and enhance the country’s energy infrastructure.
The Nigeria Police Force’s latest intervention is crucial to addressing this recurring menace. By apprehending those responsible for stealing vital equipment, authorities hope to deter future vandalism and safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
This incident highlights the critical need for increased security measures around essential infrastructure and greater community engagement to prevent further acts of vandalism and ensure the stability and reliability of the nation’s power supply.