Residents of Borno and Yobe states have been thrown into darkness following another suspected attack by Boko Haram insurgents on critical power infrastructure in the region.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed on Sunday that one of its 330kV transmission towers along the Gombe–Damaturu line was destroyed by vandals, disrupting electricity supply to large parts of the two states.
In a statement, the company’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said the attack occurred at about 5:46 p.m. on Friday, when Tower T347 was targeted.
“Our team on routine inspection discovered that the tower’s legs had been severed, causing it to collapse to one side,” Mbah explained.
She said the incident led to widespread power outages in Maiduguri, Damaturu, and surrounding communities, leaving thousands of residents without electricity.
To cushion the impact, Mbah noted that bulk power supply was being maintained through the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant, which currently feeds the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC).
“The company is distributing power through major 33kV feeders, including Beneshiek, Damasak, Bama, University Campus, Maiduguri Town, and Monguno. Damaturu and nearby areas will temporarily receive supply from the Potiskum Substation,” she said.
According to her, TCN engineers have already mobilised to the site to commence reconstruction of the damaged tower and restore normal transmission as quickly as possible.
Mbah condemned the incident as a “deliberate act of sabotage against national development” and urged Nigerians to protect public infrastructure.
“These repeated attacks on transmission facilities are unacceptable.
“They belong to all Nigerians, and their destruction undermines collective progress,” she stated.
She also appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around power installations to security agencies or the nearest TCN office.
The attack marks yet another blow to power stability in the North-East, where Boko Haram and allied insurgents have repeatedly targeted power lines, forcing the federal government in previous years to establish an emergency power plant in Maiduguri to mitigate recurring blackouts.
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