The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported on Thursday that 13 towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit transmission line were vandalized, severely disrupting power supply to parts of Bayelsa State.
The incident, which occurred on July 29, was first brought to TCN’s attention by the Youth President of the Ukpeli Community in Rivers State on August 12. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that towers T52 to T64 had been targeted, resulting in the complete collapse of nine towers, with four others left precariously hanging.
The affected towers are spread across several communities, including Okobe in Ahoada East, Emezhi 1 in Ahoada West, and Mbiama in the Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, as well as the Igbogene community in Bayelsa.
A team from TCN’s Port Harcourt region, led by the General Manager of Transmission, Emmanuel Akpa, visited the site near TCN’s Ahoada transmission substation to assess the damage. The company had already been dealing with the recent vandalism of towers T97 to T99 on the same line, with reconstruction efforts still ongoing.
TCN Managing Director, Sule Abdulaziz, described the widespread vandalism as a national disaster and called on the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa States to assist in combating the escalating destruction of critical power infrastructure. He emphasized that the Ahoada-Yenagoa transmission line is vital for delivering electricity from the Ahoada substation to the Yenagoa substation, which powers the entire Bayelsa State.
Given the extent of the damage and the ongoing work on previously vandalized towers, Abdulaziz warned that it could take several months to restore power supply to the affected areas. He urged security operatives, host communities, traditional rulers, state governments, and all stakeholders to work together with TCN in the fight against vandalism of power installations.
