The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported that its linemen discovered the body of a suspected vandal crushed under a collapsed transmission tower in Delta State. The incident occurred on the 330-kilovolt (kV) Ughelli-Benin transmission line, according to a statement issued by the company's management in Abuja on Saturday.
Discovery During Patrol
The body was found during an intensive line patrol conducted by the Delta Sub-Region Lines Maintenance Department of TCN. The patrol was initiated after the affected line tripped off due to an earth fault. The team traced the fault to Tower 101, which had collapsed, and found the corpse of the suspected vandal trapped between the tower's metal members.
Further inspection revealed that Tower 101 on the adjacent Ughelli-Sapele 330kV transmission line had also been seriously vandalised. The statement noted that the tower was still standing as of the time of the report.
TCN Condemns Vandalism
TCN condemned the vandalism of its infrastructure and appealed to host communities and the public to remain vigilant. The company urged people to report any suspicious activities around power installations to security agencies and the nearest TCN offices.
The statement emphasized the need for collective action: "The fight against the vandalism of power infrastructure is one that must be inclusive. All hands must be on deck for this fight to be won."
Tragic Reminder of Dangers
TCN described the incident as "a tragic reminder of the extreme dangers of tampering with power infrastructure." It highlighted that vandalism not only leads to power outages and damage to national assets but also endangers lives. The statement concluded: "Protecting power infrastructure is a civic responsibility. Stop the vandals, or they will stop power for us all."
