By Joycelyn Ellakeche Adah
Barely three days after a power facility in Kwara State was attacked, a similar overnight assault was unsuccessfully launched against the Ogbomoso Transmission Substation in the neighbouring Oyo state.
The invasion was unsuccessful, as security personnel on duty mounted a resistance that compelled the intruders to flee.
The incident occurred during the late hours of Saturday and the early hours of Sunday.
Investigations indicate that the assailants gained unauthorized access by scaling the perimeter fence adjacent to the facility’s entrance before being repelled.
Persecondnews had reported that operations at the Offa 132kV Transmission Substation in Kwara State were compromised during the early hours of Thursday following an armed security breach.
According to the TCN General Manager Public Affairs Ndidi Mbah, the intruders advanced toward the gate house in what was believed to be an attempt to overpower and immobilise the vigilante security personnel stationed at the substation.
The security operatives, however, responded by firing warning shots, forcing the attackers to abandon the operation and escape through the same route used to gain entry into the premises.
Preliminary findings from an early morning inspection revealed blood stains, footprints, and several abandoned items believed to have been left behind by the fleeing suspects.
TCN said some of the recovered materials included tools suspected to have been intended for use during the attack.
A further search conducted after daylight reportedly led to the recovery of an additional bag containing more implements believed to belong to the intruders.
The company confirmed that no personnel were injured during the incident, adding that the matter has been reported to relevant security agencies for investigation.
TCN said it is working closely with authorities to identify those behind the attempted attack and strengthen security around critical national infrastructure to prevent future occurrences.
The company also disclosed that a formal report on the incident would be presented to the Oba’s Palace on May 11.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over repeated security threats targeting Nigeria’s power infrastructure, TCN has warned that attacks on transmission facilities could further strain the stability of the national grid and electricity supply nationwide.
Persecondnews recalls that during the Offa raid, operators were forced to deactivate several critical power feeders, resulting in a temporary outage across the Kwara State facility.
TCN Osogbo Region, subsequently declared a “force majeure” on the transmission station following the incident, which raised fresh concerns over the security of critical national infrastructure.
According to TCN, the attackers stormed the substation around 12:45 a.m., overpowering personnel on duty and gaining access to the control room.
The armed men reportedly held workers hostage while ordering the operator on duty to open both the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders before demanding a complete shutdown of the station.
During the invasion, several control switches and relay buttons were tampered with, while the station’s 40MVA transformer was also shut down at approximately 1:07 a.m., disrupting electricity transmission within the affected axis.
The company disclosed that emergency restoration efforts commenced shortly after the attackers left the facility.
The 40MVA transformer was restored at about 1:13 a.m., while the Offa 33kV feeder was restored a minute later. Supply through the Ojoku 33kV feeder was eventually restored at 2:15 a.m.
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