The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed that a thunderstorm severely damaged a section of the 132kV Otukpo–Nsukka–New Haven transmission line in Benue State on Tuesday, September 3, 2025.
In a statement issued on Monday, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, revealed that the storm caused a high-voltage conductor to snap and fall near Tower 97, resulting in significant damage to nearby property and livestock.
“The line snapped during the thunderstorm and dropped dangerously close to a residential area,” Mbah said. “The resulting electrical discharge ignited a house, destroyed a parked vehicle, and killed two cows.”
Fortunately, no human fatalities were recorded, though the incident highlights the ongoing risks posed by encroachment on high-voltage transmission corridors.
“This incident is a stark reminder that building structures, parking vehicles, or carrying out any activities under transmission lines is extremely dangerous,” she warned. “Encroaching on transmission right-of-way is not just illegal it can be deadly.”
Despite the physical damage, TCN confirmed that there was no power outage on the Nsukka axis, as electricity was rerouted through the Otukpo 132kV Transmission Substation to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company for onward distribution.
Response & Repairs Underway
The incident prompted an emergency on-site assessment led by Tom Inugonum, the Regional Manager for TCN in Enugu.
“When we arrived, the damage was evident, a house had been torched, a car completely burnt, and livestock killed. It’s unfortunate, but we’re grateful no human lives were lost,” Inugonum said.
In response, TCN’s Quick Response Line Maintenance Team was immediately deployed to begin dismantling the damaged line section.
“Restringing of the new conductor is already underway,” the company stated. “We’re working around the clock to restore full functionality to the transmission line safely and quickly.”
The transmission company is once again urging the public to respect transmission infrastructure safety protocols, emphasizing that the right-of-way exists to prevent tragedies like this.
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