Community foils attempt to vandalize high-voltage power tower in Benue

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported an attempted act of vandalism on one of its high-voltage transmission towers along the Ugwuaji–Makurdi 330 kV transmission line.

According to a statement released by TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, the incident occurred on Saturday at Watuolo village, Utonkon, in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.

However, the swift intervention of vigilant community members prevented the sabotage. Around 3 a.m., residents of Watuolo noticed suspicious activity near Tower T195 and immediately took action.

They managed to apprehend one of the suspected vandals, while the rest of the gang fled the scene. The captured suspect was promptly handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

Commending the bravery of the local residents, Mbah praised their efforts in safeguarding critical national infrastructure.

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“TCN commends the people of Watuolo village for their swift action and vigilance. We urge other communities hosting critical infrastructure to emulate this example and take ownership of protecting transmission installations in their vicinity,” she stated.

The TCN spokesperson further emphasized the company’s ongoing collaboration with security agencies and host communities to curb the menace of vandalism, which poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s power supply.

She called for heightened vigilance among residents living near transmission facilities, reiterating that their proactive engagement is crucial in deterring criminal activities.

With increasing cases of infrastructure vandalism across the country, TCN continues to advocate for stronger community involvement in protecting power installations, ensuring uninterrupted electricity transmission nationwide.