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The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that vandals have destroyed one of its critical transmission towers, T372, along the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri 330kV transmission line. This malicious act occurred on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at approximately 1:44 am, cutting off power supply to Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, and Maiduguri in Borno State.

According to TCN, “This development has thrown the whole of Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, up to Maiduguri in Borno State out of power supply.” The company explained that the vandals cut off all four tower footings, resulting in the collapse of tower T372 along the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri sectionn.

TCN’s linesmen discovered the damage during an emergency patrol. The company’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, stated, “TCN frowns 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.”

To mitigate the impact, TCN engineers are working to temporarily restore power to Damaturu through a 33kV transmission line from Potiskum, while Maiduguri will be fed from the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP). Mbah assured that “work will commence immediately to dismantle and evacuate the collapsed tower for reconstruction and restoration of the transmission line.”

TCN reiterated its commitment to quick restoration of bulk power to the affected areas, stating, “TCN is committed to expediting the reconstruction work to ensure that it is completed as soon as possible.”

The company appealed to the public to report any suspicious activities or persons around transmission infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of protecting national assets.