The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported on Sunday that its critical infrastructure, the Shiroro-Katampe 330kV transmission line, was vandalised.
News About Nigeria understands that this marks the fifth incident between February and March this year.
This series of vandalisms has left the country in a blackout, and has raised concerns among stakeholders.
TCN’s spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, revealed that at approximately 9 am on Sunday, the Shiroro-Katampe transmission line experienced a trip.
Despite TCN engineers’ attempts to restore operation, they were unsuccessful.
“During the fault tracing process, vigilante team leaders in the vicinity notified TCN linesmen of vandalism along the Shiroro-Katampe transmission line. TCN personnel confirmed the vandalisation of the 330kV Shiroro-Katampe transmission line 1, from Towers 244 to 245, and the conductors are stolen,” Mbah said.
TCN is currently mobilising for conductor replacement, pending the completion of security operations at the site.
However, the second line remains fully operational, transmitting at full capacity to Abuja, in conjunction with the Gwagwalada 330kV line serving the Kukwaba-Apo axis.
This incident adds to a series of vandalisms recorded by TCN in February 2024, including the destruction of Tower 70 along the Gwagwalade-Katampe transmission line on February 26, 2024.
Other incidents involved the vandalism of towers along the Gombe-Damaturu 330kV transmission line and the attack on towers along the Owerri-Ahoda 132kV transmission line.
Additionally, on February 1, 2024, Tower number 388 along the Jos-Bauchi 132kV single circuit transmission line collapsed due to vandalism.
TCN said that these acts of sabotage are unacceptable, urging relevant security agencies and host communities to collaborate in apprehending the perpetrators.
