Vandals destroy electricity towers along Shiroro- Kaduna lines

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported that two towers along its 330kV Shiroro–Kaduna transmission lines 1 and 2 have been vandalized, causing significant damage to both lines. This incident has led to power outages in certain areas of Kano and Kaduna states.

The damage was first reported by TCN’s Shiroro Regional Office on Friday. In a statement released by Ndidi Mbah, the company’s General Manager of Public Affairs, TCN outlined plans to deploy its newly acquired “emergency restoration system” to the affected site while preparations are made for the reconstruction of the damaged towers.

While TCN has not directly attributed the vandalism to bandits, there is speculation regarding their involvement, especially in light of the recent tragic killing of 13 farmers in the Shiroro community.

TCN explained that the first transmission line tripped, followed by the second line, while efforts were still underway to restore the first. This situation prompted the immediate mobilization of local vigilante groups to monitor the transmission lines.

The official statement noted, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria has confirmed that two towers along its 330kV Shiroro–Kaduna transmission lines 1 and 2 have been vandalized, resulting in damage to sections of both lines. Reports from the Shiroro Regional Office indicated that the first 330kV line tripped initially, with the second line following shortly after, necessitating the urgent deployment of local vigilantes to patrol the area.”

The damage was specifically identified at towers T133 and T136, with significant damage to cables at several locations.

Furthermore, TCN mentioned that an aerial survey was conducted in partnership with security forces to assess the situation, given the area’s susceptibility to banditry, which poses considerable risks to both TCN infrastructure and personnel.

In the meantime, the company’s engineers have implemented temporary measures to ensure a bulk power supply to the Kaduna and Kano regions via the 330kV Kaduna–Jos transmission line.

The statement emphasized, “The vandalized Shiroro–Kaduna 330kV lines 1 and 2 are vital for transmitting significant power to parts of the North West region, with each line capable of carrying 600MW. The destruction of these towers and transmission lines presents a substantial obstacle to power transmission in the affected areas.”

TCN reaffirmed its commitment to rebuilding the towers and restoring the functionality of the transmission lines, aiming to resume bulk power transmission through both 330kV lines as soon as possible.