A suspected vandal has been killed after a 330kV transmission tower collapsed along the Ughelli–Benin transmission line in Delta State, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said.

The incident occurred on Saturday, August 8, 2026, after the transmission line tripped following an earth fault, prompting an inspection by TCN’s Delta Sub-Region Lines Maintenance Department.

The company said its maintenance team traced the fault to Tower 101, which had collapsed, where linesmen discovered the body of the suspected vandal trapped beneath the damaged structure.

According to TCN, the victim was found crushed between parts of the collapsed tower.

Further checks at the scene also revealed that Tower 101 on the neighbouring Ughelli–Sapele 330kV transmission line had been extensively vandalised.

The company, however, said the second tower remained standing despite the damage discovered during the inspection.

TCN condemned the incident and called on residents of communities hosting electricity infrastructure to remain alert and report suspicious activities around transmission facilities.

The company urged members of the public to notify security agencies or the nearest TCN office whenever they observe suspected acts of vandalism involving power infrastructure.

It warned that tampering with transmission facilities could result in fatalities, power disruptions and damage to critical national assets.

TCN said protecting electricity infrastructure should be treated as a collective responsibility, urging Nigerians to support efforts to prevent further attacks on power installations.

The company stressed that the incident demonstrated the dangers associated with vandalising power infrastructure and appealed to host communities and other stakeholders to help safeguard transmission facilities.