Vigilantes Foil Alleged Attempt to Vandalise TCN Transmission Tower
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Vigilantes Foil Alleged Attempt to Vandalise TCN Transmission Tower
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN has commended members of the Omelu Community Vigilante for foiling an alleged attempt to vandalise one of its transmission towers along the Benin–Onitsha 330kV Transmission Line, leading to the arrest of a suspect.
INCNews247 learnt the incident occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday during a routine patrol by members of the community vigilante, who reportedly spotted a suspicious individual beneath one of TCN’s transmission towers.
According to the company, the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Humphry Anala, an indigene of Auchi, Edo State, who resides in Benin City, was allegedly attempting to loosen the tower’s base bracing when he was apprehended by the vigilante members.
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TCN said the suspect was immediately handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC for further investigation and remains in the custody of the agency pending his arraignment in court after the conclusion of investigations.
The company disclosed that preliminary findings indicated that the suspect had allegedly been apprehended by members of the same community about two months earlier over a similar offence.
It said he was reportedly released after pleading for leniency following medical treatment but was allegedly caught again while attempting to vandalise the transmission facility.
Commending the vigilance of the Omelu Community Vigilante, TCN described the intervention as a demonstration of the critical role host communities play in protecting national assets.
The company also appreciated the continued collaboration of the NSCDC in safeguarding electricity transmission infrastructure across the country.
While condemning acts of vandalism and sabotage against power installations, TCN urged residents and host communities to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around transmission towers, substations and other electricity facilities to the nearest security agency or any of its offices.
