The Nigerian government has described the attacks on two transmission towers in the eastern part of the country as act of international sabotage.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), over the weekend revealed that two of its transmission towers, that are critical for the supply of electricity to parts of the Northeast, were vandalized.
The attack on Thursday, resulted in power outage in Borno and Yobe states
According to TCN, the tower T372, near Katsaita village in Yobe state, which was targeted, led to the collapse of the 330kV transmission tower, and in turn, caused the adjacent tower T373 to fall along the same line.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who expressed concern over the attacks on power infrastructure on his X handle, announced that the government has initiated an investigation to identify those responsible for the incident.
“Deeply troubled by the recent act of vandalism on our power infrastructure. A transmission tower in Yobe State, tower T372, was deliberately brought down, causing a ripple effect that led to the collapse of tower T373 along the same transmission line. This criminal act occurred at 21:18 and has disrupted power supply to parts of the North East, affecting Yobe and Borno States.
“While I condemn this deliberate sabotage, I appeal to all Nigerians to stand against such actions. We cannot let a few individuals hinder our efforts in providing regular electricity to the nation.
“Our Ministry is working closely with law enforcement agencies to investigate this incident thoroughly. Those responsible for this destructive act will face the full force of the law. Vandalism not only disrupts power supply but also poses a threat to the safety and well-being of our communities.
“In addition to immediate actions, we are mobilizing resources to quickly reconstruct the damaged towers. Restoring power supply to Yobe and Borno States is our priority.
“The incident involved the deliberate use of explosives on the 330kV transmission tower. Villagers confirmed hearing a loud explosion before the towers came down. This act of vandalism not only caused inconvenience but also raised concerns about the safety of our power infrastructure.
“We are taking this matter seriously and are committed to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable for their actions. TCN has swiftly mobilized a contractor to the site to commence the reconstruction of the damaged transmission towers,” the Minister tweeted.
He clarified that the government is actively engaged in efforts to restore electricity supply to both states.
“Our goal is not only to restore power supply to the affected areas but also to send a strong message that such acts of sabotage will not go unpunished. We are developing a comprehensive plan to enhance the security of power facilities nationwide and working on legislation to tackle the menace of vandalism,” he added.
