Suspected Terrorists Bomb Three TCN Facilities in Maiduguri

 One NSCDC personnel killed

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Suspected terrorists have again attacked power facilities belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) along the Maiduguri–Damaturu transmission lines axes in the North-east.

It is coming about a week after vandals also believed to be insurgents, similarly attacked power lines belonging to the company, throwing Borno and Yobe into darkness just before Christmas.

The incident also occurred roughly two years after  electricity was restored to Borno, after Boko Haram destroyed the transmission lines, throwing the whole state into total blackout.

In 2021, after the government attempted to restore power in Borno following the destruction of power assets, terrorists planted explosive devices along the path, killing some staff of the TCN who were working to restore electricity and injured others, including some soldiers who were on guard duty.

Confirming the latest incident, the TCN stated that an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), was killed after the attack.

The company did not elaborate on how the security personnel died, however, it was learnt that the security operative stepped on an explosive at the scene of the incident.

“The TCN hereby confirms the destruction of three of its towers along Maiduguri-Damaturu Transmission Line with explosives yesterday (Thursday) 28, December, 2023.

“In addition to the destruction of the three towers, the very sad incident also cost the life of an NSCDC officer.

“It’s truly another very sad day for us at TCN, with this incident, especially with the loss of life of the NSCDC official.

“TCN commiserates with the family of the deceased and the NSCDC for this very sad and shocking incident,” a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the company, Ndidi Mbah, stated.

In March this year, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, inaugurated a 50mw power plant in Maiduguri to ameliorate the impact of the incessant attacks by the insurgents.

”Over the past few years, insurgents had attacked power supply lines along Maiduguri-Damaturu and Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu roads leading to acute power supply shortages to the city of Maiduguri and its environs and crippling the economic activities in the region.

”For this purposeful response, I want to commend the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) for following my directive to ensure the immediate restoration of reliable power supply to Maiduguri within the shortest possible time,” he said.