The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported on Sunday that suspected vandals attacked a transmission line supplying power to Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State.
According to a statement by Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, the vandals targeted tower No. T372 on the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri 330kV transmission line in the early hours of Saturday, September 21, 2024, at approximately 1:44 am.
This attack has led to a widespread power outage affecting the entire Damaturu area and extending to Maiduguri in Borno State. The vandals severed all four footings of the tower, causing its collapse, which was later discovered by TCN’s emergency patrol team.
In response, TCN engineers are working on interim solutions. Power will be restored to Damaturu through a 33kV transmission line from Potiskum, while Maiduguri will be powered by the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP).
TCN also announced that work will begin immediately to dismantle the collapsed tower, evacuate the debris, and reconstruct the transmission line.
In their statement, the company condemned the repeated attacks on critical national infrastructure and urged citizens to remain vigilant, reporting any suspicious activities near transmission facilities to law enforcement or local TCN offices.
Mbah concluded by assuring the public that TCN is committed to restoring power to the affected areas as quickly as possible and will expedite the reconstruction of the damaged tower.
