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In a swift and commendable operation, local vigilantes in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State have apprehended five suspected vandals who were caught tampering with a critical 132kV transmission line owned by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The suspects, all from the Upu community, were arrested on November 3 while attacking the Otukpo-Yandev single-circuit line.
According to a statement released by TCN on Thursday, the men were intercepted at towers N16 and N17 in the ASA 3 community. The vandalism extended across eight additional towers along the same line, with dismantled tower parts recovered at the scene. The materials have since been handed over to the Benue State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.
The affected section of the line has been isolated to prevent further disruption, and power supply has been successfully restored to Yandev, Wukari, Takum, and Kashimbila substations through Apir. The Otukpo substation is currently being back-fed from New Haven to ensure continuity of service.
TCN expressed profound gratitude to the Otukpo LGA chairman, community leaders, youths, and the vigilante group for their rapid response and decisive action. The company emphasized that such community-driven interventions are vital in protecting national infrastructure and pledged to deepen collaboration with local stakeholders to safeguard transmission assets.
This incident highlights the growing menace of infrastructure vandalism in Nigeria, which continues to undermine power reliability and economic stability. However, the successful arrest also underscores the effectiveness of community policing and vigilance in combating sabotage. As investigations proceed, authorities are expected to ensure the suspects face the full weight of the law, sending a strong deterrent to others engaged in similar activities.
Benue residents and power consumers in the affected areas can now breathe a sigh of relief as electricity flow resumes, thanks to the combined efforts of vigilant locals and responsive technical teams. This episode serves as a powerful reminder: when communities stand guard, critical infrastructure stands stronger.
