Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has commended the Omelu Community Vigilante for its vigilance and swift response, which led to the arrest of a suspected vandal allegedly attempting to vandalise a transmission tower along the Benin–Onitsha 330kV Transmission Line.
The incident occurred at about 2:30am on Sunday, 2nd August 2026, during a routine patrol by members of the Omelu Community Vigilante, who noticed a suspicious individual beneath one of TCN’s transmission towers. The suspect, later identified as 34 year old Mr. Humphry Anala, an indigene of Auchi, Edo State, residing in Benin City, was allegedly attempting to loosen the tower base bracing when he was apprehended.
Following his arrest, the suspect was handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further investigation. He remains in the custody of the Corps and is expected to be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Preliminary findings indicate that the suspect had reportedly been apprehended by members of the same community about two months earlier for a similar alleged offence. On that occasion, he was reportedly released after pleading for leniency following medical treatment, only to be apprehended again for an alleged repeat offence.
TCN commends the vigilance and sustained commitment of the Omelu Community Vigilante in protecting critical national infrastructure and appreciates the continued collaboration of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in safeguarding the nation’s transmission assets.
TCN strongly condemns all acts of vandalism and sabotage against power transmission infrastructure and calls on host communities and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities around transmission towers, substations, and other power installations to the nearest security agency or TCN office.
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