By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police have apprehended vandals with tower members and cables stolen from transmission towers along the Damboa/Maiduguri 132KV transmission line.
This is as the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, intensifies its battle against vandalism of its installations across the country in collaboration with the security agencies and relevant stakeholders, according to a statement signed by Ndidi Mbah, the company’s General Manager, Public Affairs.
The milestone in the crack down on Vandals, according to the statement, was recorded on Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 when these ones were arrested with a blue pick-up van loaded with sacks containing the transmission tower parts and cables transmission line which is still under reconstruction due to a previous vandalism attack on the same line.
The vandals are said to be currently in custody at the Damboa Police Station, and will be transferred to the National Police Force Headquarters in Maiduguri.
Narrating similar incidents, TCN said, “On August 11th, 2024, vandals attacked towers T377, T378, and T379 along the Gombe-Damaturu 330kV transmission line, which is undergoing rapid and urgent repair following a previous vandalism incident involving IEDs on towers T193 and T194. However, two of the vandals were killed by hunters at the Damaturu end of the line.
“On August 3rd and 5th, 2024, vandals attacked towers along two transmission line routes under Enugu Region of TCN.
“The first attack targeted tower T9 on the Apir-Aliede 330kV transmission line, and the second targeted tower T12 on the Apir-Otukpo-Yandev 123kV transmission line, both passing through Ikpayango Village. In response to the first incident, the local vigilante group acted promptly, preventing the vandals from stealing the skywire after it had been brought down.
“Additionally, on August 5, 2024, vandals managed to cut off and steal the yellow phase conductor from towers T11 to T12 along the Apir-Otukpo-Yandev line, which caused a tripping of the 150MVA power transformer at the Apir Transmission Substation.”
On the tower, TCN said its engineers responded swiftly by removing the remaining conductors, allowing the continued supply of bulk electricity to Yandev, Otukpo, and Takum through the 132kV New Haven-Otukpo transmission line.
It also noted that the team had successfully sectionalised the affected towers to facilitate repairs, and had also stabilised both ends of the sectionalised network that supply power to Otukpo, Yandev, and Takum from the New Haven Substation while the 150MVA transformer has been tested and restored.
Continuing the narrative, TCN said, “On July 24, 2024, in the Osogbo Region, Tower T328 along the 330kV Osogbo-Ganmo line in the Oba-Oke area of Osogbo, Osun State, was vandalized. This incident caused severe structural damage to the tower, leaving it twisted and bent, with insulators at a dangerous angle of 65° to 70°. The damaged and bent tower T328 also affected towers T327 and T329 on either side.
“Despite the precarious condition of T328, the cables remained supported by the bent towers, preventing power outage. The Osogbo Region of TCN has since carried out emergency repair work on the affected towers to prevent their collapse while awaiting permanent reconstruction of Tower T328.
“A visit was also made to the Oba of Oba-Oke to emphasize the need for community collaboration in protecting installations within his domain. Additionally, more local vigilantes have been employed to monitor the facilities.
“In the Benin Region of TCN, on July 19, 2024, tower T449 at Oluku Community along the Ihovbor/Benin 330kV transmission line was vandalised, with the three legs and supporting members cut off. TCN engineers swiftly carried out temporary repairs to prevent the tower’s collapse.
“On July 25, 2024, tower T72 along the Benin/Egbin 330kV transmission line, also in Oluku Community, Benin, was vandalized, with the four legs of the tower (B6N) cut off. TCN’s engineers again reinforced the tower legs to prevent collapse.
“In the Port Harcourt Region of TCN, vandals attacked Towers T98 and T99 along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line on July 29, 2024, causing them to collapse. These towers were located in the Igbogene Community of Bayelsa State.
“On August 3, 2024, Tower T97 along the same line route also collapsed due to instability from the adjacent collapsed towers, compounded by storm and wind effects. Repair work has commenced, including cracking and clearing the affected tower bases to facilitate the complete reconstruction of the towers.
“Recently, transmission lines in the North East, under the Bauchi Region of TCN—stretching from the Jos 330kV Transmission Substation to Bauchi, through Gombe, Damaturu, and up to Maiduguri—have suffered multiple vandalism attacks at various points. Additionally, several other less severe acts of vandalism have also occurred.”
TCN reiterated the imperatives of collective action against vandals of power installations of any kind and its commitment to working with communities and security agencies as well as vigilantes to safeguard the critical power installations towards a stable power network and supply.