Obajana Transmission Station Attacked by Armed Men, Power Transformers Destroyed

In a targeted assault, armed men attacked the Obajana transmission station, damaging power transformers and impacting regional electricity. 

On Tuesday, suspected bandits attacked the site of the ongoing construction for a 330/132/33kV transmission substation in Obajana, Kogi State.

The armed men, firing intermittently, destroyed a 150 MVA 330/132/33kV power transformer. This has significantly set back the government’s efforts to enhance power generation.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria announced the recent development in a statement released by Ndidi Mbah, General Manager of Public Affairs, on Wednesday in Abuja.

She stated that the incident happened on Tuesday, November 12th, 2024, at around 11:55 p.m.

The newly planned Obajana Transmission Substation, featuring a 1X150MVA capacity at 330/132/33kV, is expected to greatly improve the power supply for Kogi State and its neighboring regions once it is completed.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria announced that a group of armed men had invaded the construction site for its 330/132/33kV transmission substation currently being built in Obajana, Kogi State.

The attack took place on the night of November 12, 2024, at around 11:55 PM.

Reports from security personnel at the site indicate that the assailants began shooting indiscriminately, prompting the guards to flee.

During the attack, a 150MVA 330/132/33kV power transformer that had already been placed on its plinth was hit, causing its radiator to burst.

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The statement mentioned that following the incident, the company had started assessing the damaged equipment.

She stated that, following the incident, TCN is assessing the extent of damage in partnership with the contractor overseeing the project.

This incident is part of a larger trend of vandalism directed at transmission infrastructure nationwide.

The company voiced its worries last Sunday about the rising trend of vandalism aimed at transmission lines and towers, which is significantly affecting the nation’s power infrastructure.

This concern arose after a recent attack on the 330kV Lokoja–Gwagwalada transmission line one, during which vandals damaged transmission towers T306, T307, and T308.

The increasing trend of vandalism against transmission lines and towers has emerged as a significant issue, severely affecting the nation’s power infrastructure and obstructing both the growth and stability of the national grid.

This recent incident is part of a concerning trend of attacks on the transmission network across the country.

“Damaging power installations harms everyone and weakens the initiatives to enhance our nation’s transmission system,” it declared.