For about the sixth time since 2021, Boko Haram Terrorists have once more bombed power transmission towers along Damaturu- Maiduguri transmission lines, the latest of which include towers T193 and T194 along the Damaturu -Maiduguri 330kV Single Circuit Transmission Line.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) disclosed the latest attack executed on Tuesday, June 11 night at about 10:15pm in a statement.
Sonic Media recalls that on 28th December, 2023, three of TCN’s towers along Maiduguri – Damaturu Transmission Line were blown with explosives which also claimed the life of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) officer.
Also, in January 26, 2021 similar bombing of three transmission towers: T159, T160 and T161 occured.
The Terrorists further in March 27, 2021 at about 5.56 am bombed towers: T152 and T153.
In the latest attack, the TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah stated that two of its towers, T193 and T194, along the Damaturu -Maiduguri 330kV Single Circuit Transmission Line have again been destroyed by vandals.
According to her, “The incident, TCN believes happened at about 10:15pm, yesterday (Tuesday) night, when the 150MVA power transformer at Molai Substation tripped at the same time as the 330kV transmission line supplying bulk power to Maiduguri from Damaturu Transmission Substation.
“After the line tripping, efforts were made by TCN engineers to close the Mulai – Damaturu line to enable bulk transmission of electricity, which failed repeatedly.
"Early Today (Wednesday), however, TCN lines engineers along with security operatives patrolled the line and discovered that towers 193 and 194 along the 330kV transmission line were brought down using an explosive device, whose fragments are scattered at the site of the incident.
“The area affected by this incident is Maiduguri and its environs.”
She recall that on the 28th of December, 2023, towers T193, T194 and T195, were destroyed on 28th December, 2023 using similar improvised Explosives IEDs.
“Two out of the towers in question are the towers affected by yesterday’s vandalism attack, which were rebuilt after that incident.
TCN is currently assessing the situation with the view to deciding on the best approach to ensuring the temporary restoration of the power supply while a contractor is mobilized to rebuild the two transmission towers.
"We will continue to do everything possible with the assistance of security operatives to protect our transmission towers and we are also calling upon the government and well-meaning Nigerians to join in the fight against the destruction of our collective national assets”, she added.
