Power outage hits Borno, Yobe as vandals destroy TCN tower on Gombe–Damaturu line

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed that one of its transmission towers, identified as Tower T347 along the Gombe–Damaturu 330kV line, was vandalized on Friday evening.

In a statement released on Sunday, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said the incident occurred at about 5:46 p.m. and was discovered during a routine inspection by the company’s technical team.

Ms Mbah said that the inspection team found that the tower’s legs had been deliberately cut off by vandals, causing it to lean precariously to one side.

According to her, this act had resulted in the partial disruption of the bulk power supply to Maiduguri, Borno and Damaturu, Yobe and its environs.

She said that the company, however, noted that in spite of these challenges, the bulk supply was being maintained through the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP), which currently feeds the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC).

”For onward distribution to consumers through major 33kV feeders, including Beneshiek, Damasak, Bama, University, Campus, Maiduguri Town, Monguno, and others.

”Additionally, Damaturu and its environs will be supplied from the Potiskum Substation for the time being,” she said.

Ms Mbah also said that TCN engineers were already on site, working to replace the damaged tower and restore normal transmission.

She said that the company strongly condemned the act of vandalism and appealed to the public to protect national assets and report any suspicious activities to the security agencies or the nearest TCN office.

(NAN)