By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has praised the Omelu Community Vigilante for foiling an alleged attempt to vandalise a transmission tower along the Benin–Onitsha 330kV Transmission Line and arresting the suspected culprit.
According to a statement issued by the company’s management on Thursday, the suspect was apprehended at about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 2, 2026, during a routine patrol by members of the community vigilante.
TCN said the patrol team noticed a suspicious individual beneath one of its transmission towers and arrested the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Mr. Humphry Anala, an indigene of Auchi, Edo State, who resides in Benin City. He was allegedly attempting to loosen the tower’s base bracing when he was caught.
The company disclosed that the suspect was subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further investigation. It added that he remains in the custody of the agency and is expected to be arraigned in court after investigations are concluded.
TCN also revealed that preliminary findings indicated the suspect had reportedly been apprehended by the same community about two months earlier for a similar alleged offence. He was said to have been released after pleading for leniency following medical treatment but was allegedly caught again in a repeat attempt.
The company commended the vigilance and commitment of the Omelu Community Vigilante in protecting critical national infrastructure and appreciated the continued collaboration of the NSCDC in safeguarding electricity transmission assets across the country.
Reaffirming its stance against attacks on power infrastructure, TCN condemned all forms of vandalism and sabotage, urging host communities and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around transmission towers, substations and other electricity installations to the nearest security agency or TCN office.
