By our correspondent
The Transmission Company of Nigeria says five transmission towers have collapsed along the Ikot Abasi – Eket 132kV Double Circuit Transmission Line after “severe acts of vandalism,” leaving Ibom Power station without bulk supply and putting seven other towers at risk.
According to a press release issued on Friday, 14th August, 2026, the damage was discovered on August 9, 2026, during “a routine joint line patrol conducted by TCN linesmen.”
A preliminary assessment by the company shows the collapse was not accidental.
“Preliminary assessment indicates that critical structural bracing members were removed from Towers N9, J4, N10, N11 and N12 resulting in the collapse of five towers,” TCN stated.
Engineers who carried out further inspection found the sabotage extended beyond the five fallen structures. TCN said structural members from seven additional towers — J3, N8, N13, N14, N15, N18 and N19 — “had also been removed and stolen.”
“The towers… are now structurally compromised and pose a risk of further collapse,” the statement warned.
The incident has forced immediate changes to how power is distributed in eastern Akwa Ibom. To keep the lights on for as many customers as possible, TCN said it has reconfigured the network.
“To mitigate the impact on electricity supply, the network has been reconfigured to prioritize supply to Ekim transmission station leaving Ibom Power as only station without supply,” the company explained.
TCN said it is moving fast to restore the line hinting that Management “is mobilizing an urgent intervention to complete the reconstruction of the affected sections of the line,” and has already notified security agencies.
“Security agencies have also been notified to aid investigations and prevent further acts of vandalism along the line route,” the company added.
The destruction of transmission towers has become a recurring problem for the national grid, often blamed on scrap metal theft and sabotage in remote corridors. The Ikot Abasi–Eket line is a critical 132kV artery that feeds industrial loads and residential areas in Ikot Abasi, Eket, and surrounding local government areas.
In its statement, TCN also condemned the incident and promised to push ahead with grid stability efforts despite the setback.
“We condemn this act of sabotage and reiterate our commitment to working hard to maintain a robust and reliable national grid,” the company said.
The company did not give a timeline for when reconstruction will be completed, but said the intervention team is being deployed immediately. It also urged host communities, traditional rulers, and youth groups along the line route to support security agencies by reporting suspicious activities around transmission infrastructure.
With seven other towers now flagged as weak, sources close to the company said engineers will have to carry out emergency reinforcement to prevent a wider collapse that could deepen the power outage in the state.
