Armed Robbers Invade TCN Substation, Trigger Temporary Power Shutdown in Kwara
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The Transmission Company of Nigeria has declared a force majeure on the Offa 132kV Transmission Substation in Kwara State following a daring overnight robbery attack by heavily armed men who invaded the facility and held workers hostage at gunpoint.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, reportedly disrupted operations at the transmission station and forced operators to temporarily shut down critical electricity feeders serving parts of the area.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by Ndidi Mbah, the company disclosed that the attackers stormed the substation’s control room and compelled personnel on duty to deactivate both the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders at exactly 12:45 a.m.
According to the statement, the armed men further ordered a complete shutdown of the transmission facility while tampering with control switches and relay buttons within the station.
TCN revealed that the station’s 40MVA transformer was subsequently shut down at about 1:07 a.m. during the operation, heightening fears of prolonged electricity disruption in affected communities.
However, operators were later able to restore supply in phases after the attackers left the premises. The 40MVA transformer was restored at approximately 1:13 a.m., while the Offa 33kV feeder came back on stream at 1:14 a.m. The Ojoku 33kV feeder was eventually restored at about 2:15 a.m.
The company expressed regret over the inconvenience caused by the incident and reassured electricity consumers of its commitment to efficient power transmission across the country.
The attack has again raised concerns over the growing security threats facing Nigeria’s critical infrastructure, particularly power installations that remain vulnerable to vandalism, sabotage and criminal attacks.
Industry observers say repeated attacks on transmission assets could worsen electricity instability and increase operational risks within the nation’s fragile power sector.
The Offa transmission facility plays a strategic role in delivering bulk electricity to distribution load centres within parts of Kwara State and adjoining communities.
