On November 12, 2024, armed men suspected to be bandits attacked the construction site of the 330/132/33kV transmission substation in Obajana, Kogi State, causing significant damage to critical power infrastructure. The assailants, who opened fire indiscriminately around 11:55 pm, destroyed a 150MVA 330/132/33kV power transformer, severely impacting the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s efforts to expand power generation capabilities in the region.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed the attack in a statement released on Wednesday, signed by its General Manager for Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah. The statement detailed that the attackers managed to damage the transformer’s radiator during the attack, forcing security personnel at the site to retreat.

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This transmission substation, once completed, was expected to enhance power supply to Kogi State and its neighboring areas. The ongoing project is designed to support a 1X150MVA 330/132/33kV capacity, which would significantly increase the region’s access to electricity.

In response to the attack, TCN has begun a thorough evaluation of the damage in collaboration with the contractors managing the project. This assault on the Obajana site is part of a troubling rise in attacks on power infrastructure across Nigeria. Just days before, TCN had expressed concern over the increasing trend of vandalism targeting transmission lines and towers, which is crippling the country’s power network.