TCN Towers Vandalized, Causing Power Outages in Three States

Power outage has hit Gombe, Yola, and Jalingo residents.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, while confirming the development, said that vandals destroyed four towers along the Jos-Gombe transmission line.

Ndidi Mbah, the general manager of Public Affairs at TCN, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Consequently, the bulk power supply to Gombe, Yola, and Jalingo Substations has been disrupted, affecting the bulk power supply to parts of Yola and Jos Electricity Distribution Companies’ franchise areas.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby states that four towers along the Jos – Gombe 330kV transmission line have been vandalized at about 3:32 pm today, 22nd April 2024.

“TCN notes that when the 330kV transmission line tripped, its operators attempted to restore it to service but it tripped again, prompting the dispatch of TCN lines men to trace the line to detect and rectify the fault.

“While fault tracing, TCN’s engineering crew discovered that towers 288, 289, 290, and 291 were vandalized and that some tower members were carted away. Also, the towers had equally collapsed as a result of the incident.

“Presently, bulk power supply to Gombe, Yola, and Jalingo Substations have been disrupted, affecting the bulk power supply to parts of Yola and Jos Electricity Distribution Companies’ franchise areas.

“To mitigate the effect of the incident on electricity consumers affected by the incident, TCN is trying to first back feed Gombe through its 132kV transmission line from Bauchi and subsequently Ashaka, Potiskum, Damaturu, and Billiri/ Savannah.

“We will do everything possible to restore supply to the affected areas while efforts are made to reconstruct the four vandalized towers,” the TCN spokesperson said.

Abuja was thrown into darkness in February over the vandalization of TCN towers.