The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported the death of a suspected vandal who was found trapped beneath a collapsed transmission tower in Delta State.
The incident occurred along the 330 kilovolt (kV) Ughelli-Benin transmission line, according to a statement issued by the company in Abuja on Saturday.
TCN said its linesmen discovered the body during a patrol conducted by the Delta Sub-Region Lines Maintenance Department.
The patrol was launched after the transmission line tripped following an earth fault, prompting engineers to inspect the affected section and identify the source of the problem.
According to the company, the patrol team eventually traced the fault to Tower 101, which had collapsed.
The linesmen reportedly found the corpse of a suspected vandal trapped among the fallen tower components.
TCN said further examination of the area revealed that another tower, also numbered 101 and located on the adjacent Ughelli-Sapele 330kV transmission line, had been extensively vandalised.
Unlike the collapsed structure, the second tower was still standing at the time of the inspection, the company said.
The power transmission company condemned the vandalism and warned of the severe risks associated with unauthorised interference with electricity infrastructure.
TCN appealed to residents of communities hosting transmission facilities and members of the public to remain alert and report suspicious activities around power installations.
The company urged members of the public to promptly notify security agencies or the nearest TCN office whenever they observe suspicious movement around transmission towers and other electricity infrastructure.
TCN stressed that protecting the country’s power infrastructure requires cooperation among government agencies, host communities and citizens.
It noted that vandalism does not only damage critical national assets and contribute to power disruptions but can also result in serious injury or death.
The company described the Delta incident as a tragic demonstration of the dangers involved in tampering with high-voltage transmission infrastructure.
TCN therefore called for greater public vigilance and cooperation in preventing the destruction of electricity infrastructure across the country.
