A suspected vandal has been killed after a 330kV transmission tower collapsed along the Ughelli–Benin transmission line in Delta State, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 8, 2026, and was discovered during a patrol by TCN’s Lines Maintenance Department following a fault on the line.
According to the company, the transmission line had tripped due to an earth fault, prompting an investigation that led officials to Tower 101, which had collapsed.
During the inspection, maintenance workers found the body of a suspected vandal crushed beneath the damaged tower structure.
TCN also revealed that a nearby tower on the Ughelli–Sapele 330kV line had been heavily vandalized, although it remained standing at the time of inspection.
The company condemned the act and warned of the dangers of tampering with power infrastructure, noting that such activities not only disrupt electricity supply but also pose serious risks to lives.
TCN urged residents and host communities to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities around power installations to security agencies or its offices.
It described the protection of electricity infrastructure as a shared responsibility, stressing that continued vandalism threatens national assets and power stability.
