Backout in Yobe’s capital as suspected vandals attack power transmission line

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.

In a statement by Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager for Public Affairs, the incident occurred at around 1:44 am on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Vandals targeted and hacked down tower No T372, which is part of the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri 330kV transmission line.

The attack has disrupted power supply to the affected areas, and efforts are underway to restore service.

TCN said the “development has thrown the whole of Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, up to Maiduguri in Borno State out of power supply.

“This time, the vandals cut off all four tower footings, resulting in the collapse of tower T372 along the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri section, which was discovered by TCN’s linesmen deployed on emergency patrol.

“Following this destructive attack, effort is ongoing by TCN’s engineers in the interim, to back feed Damaturu through a 33kV transmission line from Potiskum, while Maiduguri town will be fed from the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP)”.

The company added that work will commence immediately to dismantle and evacuate the collapsed tower for reconstruction and restoration of the transmission line.

TCN frowned at the “incessant attack on our collective national assets and enjoin citizens to be vigilant in protecting these assets and also to report suspicious activities or persons around our transmission infrastructure to law enforcement agents or TCN offices in that vicinity .

“TCN is committed to a quick restoration of bulk power to the affected areas and will expedite reconstruction work on the tower to ensure that it is completed as soon as possible”, Mbah stated.