The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has arrested more than 30 suspected vandals of electricity infrastructure, particularly along the Kumbotso–Zaria transmission line corridor.
The Kano Regional General Manager of TCN, M.K. Bello, disclosed this on Wednesday during a sensitisation campaign against the vandalism of electricity infrastructure and encroachment on transmission lines in Paki community, Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Bello attributed the arrests to the cooperation between the company, traditional rulers, residents, the police and other security agencies.
“We have arrested more than 30 suspected vandals, particularly in this area. We are very grateful to the community, especially the district head, the police and other security agencies, for their cooperation and support in protecting our transmission infrastructure,” he said.
“About 10 transmission towers were vandalised within four to five months this year, while five related cases are currently before the courts,” Bello said.
He warned that damage to the facilities could disrupt electricity supply and cost the company a significant amount of money to replace them.
“We have about five cases before the courts over these issues,” he said.
The regional manager expressed concern over excavation, construction and pit-digging activities close to transmission towers, warning that such practices could weaken the structures and cause them to collapse.
He explained that transmission lines carry electricity over distances of between 200 and 300 kilometres, making the towers critical to the movement of power across locations.
“The digging of pits and construction activities taking place close to our transmission towers are major concerns. These towers support lines that transmit electricity over distances of more than 200 to 300 kilometres. If anything happens to any of these towers, they could collapse, and replacing them would cost a lot of money,” Bello said.
He urged residents to avoid activities that could endanger transmission towers and to report suspected vandalism or encroachment to the appropriate authorities.