The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a suspected vandal in connection with the destruction of six transmission towersalong the Yola–Jalingo 330kV power line, an incident that has raised fresh concerns over attacks on critical electricity infrastructure. The damaged towers, identified as T312 to T317, had vital structural components removed, leaving the installations weakened and threatening stable electricity transmission in the affected corridor.

According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the vandalism was discovered during a routine inspection after engineers traced a fault on the transmission line. Investigators found that several tower members had been deliberately dismantled and taken away, compromising the structural integrity of the six towers. Police later apprehended one suspect, while efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the syndicate believed to have participated in the operation.

The TCN described the attack as an act of economic sabotage, warning that repeated vandalism of transmission infrastructure poses a serious risk to Nigeria’s electricity supply and increases the cost of maintaining the national grid. Engineers have since been deployed to assess the damage and begin emergency repairs aimed at preventing further deterioration and restoring the affected transmission corridor.

Security agencies have urged residents of host communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around power installations, stressing that public cooperation is essential to protecting national assets. The police also reaffirmed their commitment to tracking down those involved in the vandalism and ensuring they face prosecution as authorities intensify efforts to curb attacks on critical infrastructure nationwide.