The Transmission Company of Nigeria has confirmed the vandalisation of six transmission towers along the Yola-Jalingo 330kV Transmission Line, while the Nigeria Police Force has arrested a principal suspect allegedly linked to the incident.

The affected towers — T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003 and T1004 — were discovered damaged during a routine inspection by TCN engineers on July 29, 2026.

In a statement shared on its X handle on Wednesday, TCN said the vandals removed key bracing components from the structures and stole about 130 pieces of tower materials, compromising the stability and safety of the transmission infrastructure.

Following the discovery, TCN, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, launched a joint operation on July 30, 2026, within the host community to track down those responsible.

The operation involved engagements with community leaders and youth representatives, who were mobilised to support efforts aimed at identifying and apprehending the perpetrators behind the vandalisation.

TCN said the Nigeria Police Force later informed the company on August 1, 2026, that a principal suspect linked to the vandalisation had been arrested.

“TCN officials visited the site to verify the recovered materials and reiterated the call for the full prosecution of the suspect to ensure justice is served,” the company stated.

TCN added that investigators had obtained valuable leads from the suspect in custody and were using the information to track down other members of the alleged vandalism network.

“The Police have obtained solid leads from the suspect in custody and remain committed to tracking down the remaining members of the syndicate. Investigations are ongoing,” the company said.

TCN condemned the continued vandalisation of electricity infrastructure, describing the act as a major threat to national grid assets and the significant investments made in the power sector.

The company called on host communities and the general public to remain alert and promptly report suspicious activities around transmission facilities to security agencies or the nearest TCN office to help protect critical infrastructure.