A principal suspect has been arrested in connection with the vandalism of six transmission towers along the Yola–Jalingo 330kV transmission line, marking a major breakthrough in efforts to combat attacks on Nigeria’s power infrastructure. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed that police also recovered part of the stolen tower components as investigations continue to uncover other members of the alleged criminal syndicate.

The affected towers—T995, T998, T999, T1002, T1003 and T1004—were found damaged during a routine patrol by TCN engineers on July 29, 2026. According to the company, vandals removed about 130 critical bracing members, severely weakening the structures and posing a significant threat to the stability of the transmission line and electricity supply. Following the discovery, TCN partnered with the Nigeria Police Force to carry out a joint operation in the host community, where local leaders were engaged to support efforts to identify those responsible.

The investigation recorded a major breakthrough on August 1, when police informed TCN that a key suspect had been taken into custody and some of the stolen materials had been recovered. TCN officials later visited the recovery site to verify the items and called for the suspect’s prosecution. Police said information obtained from the suspect has provided useful leads, and security operatives are pursuing other members of the vandalism network.

Condemning the repeated attacks on electricity facilities, TCN described the destruction of transmission infrastructure as a serious threat to national investments and the reliability of the power grid. The company urged residents of host communities to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around transmission installations, stressing that safeguarding critical national infrastructure requires the collective support of the public and security agencies.