Two men have been arrested over the alleged vandalism of Transmission Company of Nigeria towers located along the Nkalagu to Abakaliki 132kV transmission line in Ebonyi State.
The suspects, identified as Obinna Nweke and Monday Ezike, were reportedly linked to the destruction of Towers T15, T16 and T17 on the transmission route.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the General Manager of Public Affairs for the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Ndidi Mbah, both suspects are natives of the Ezza Umuhuali Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Mbah explained that the suspects were apprehended following the intervention of local youths and members of a community vigilance group who acted on credible information regarding the activities around the transmission installations.
Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that vital structural components of the affected towers, valued at billions of naira, were carefully removed over time and allegedly sold to illegal scrap metal dealers.
The statement further disclosed that the vandalism had allegedly been ongoing since January 2026 before the suspects were eventually caught.
Following their arrest, the two men were handed over to officers of the Nigerian Police Force at Ishielu Police Station in Ntezi for further investigation.
They have since been formally charged before the Ebonyi State High Court, while security agencies continue efforts to track down other suspected accomplices believed to still be on the run.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria strongly condemned the incident, describing it as an act of economic sabotage capable of affecting power supply stability in Ebonyi State and neighbouring communities.
The agency also commended the swift response of the Ezza Umuhuali youths and the local vigilance group for helping to stop the activities and bring the suspects to justice.
TCN further appealed to communities across the country to remain vigilant and quickly report suspicious movements or activities around electricity installations to security agencies or nearby TCN offices.
