PICTORIAL: 13 towers on the Rivers-Bayelsa 132KV Transmission Line are destroyed by vandals as darkness descends.

Two weeks following a similar occurrence, thirteen transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit transmission line in the states of Rivers and Bayelsa have been vandalized.

Late on Wednesday night, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) made this announcement in a statement that was signed by Ndidi Mbah, the company's general manager of public affairs.

Mbah claims that on August 12, 2024, the Youth President of the Ukpeli Community in Rivers State reported the occurrence for the first time.

"The Port Harcourt area of TCN swiftly visited the location close to TCN's Ahoada Transmission Substation to investigate the situation, led by General Manager of Transmission, Engr. Emmanuel Akpa. Thirteen towers, from T52 to T64, were certified by the crew to be impacted by mischief. Four of these are hanging perilously and could fall at any time, while nine of them have fully collapsed, according to a TCN representative.

The Managing Director/CEO of TCN called the occurrence a national calamity and asked the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa States to help TCN deal with the persistent vandalism of its facilities, which is becoming more and more serious and overpowering.

He reminded that on July 29, 2024, towers T97 to T99 on the same line route collapsed due to vandalism, and that TCN had just responded to that incident. Work to replace the vandalized towers is still ongoing.Furthermore, towers 19–31 on the Ahoada–Yenagoa line have been reinforced after tower members were stolen and defaced; a new contract for this work was just issued. In spite of Despite these continuous efforts, TCN faces a substantial problem as a result of the recent vandalism of the thirteen towers.

The thirteen vandalized towers are spread over many local government areas in Rivers State, including Okobe in Ahoada East, Emezhi 1 in Ahoada West, and Mbiama in Ahoada West, in addition to the Igbogene village in Bayelsa State.

Further emphasized in the statement was the necessity of the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit Transmission line for the evacuation of power from the Ahoada Transmission Substation to the Yenagoa Substation, which provides electricity to the entire Bayelsa State.

It further stated that TCN might need many months to finish the project considering the severity of the tower damage and the continuing maintenance being done on previously vandalized transmission towers towers to be rebuilt and strung in order to bring power back to the impacted areas in both states.

"TCN is requesting once more that security personnel, host communities, traditional leaders, state governments, and all other relevant parties work together with TCN to combat vandalism related to electricity installations. Mbah declared, "Action must be taken immediately.