A significant power outage has affected the Eket and Ekim communities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, after vandals dismantled a transmission line along the Eket–Ikot Abasi route. The incident occurred on October 12, 2025, when Tower T35 along the 132kV Transmission Line collapsed due to vandalism, according to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

An inspection team from TCN’s Lines Department visited the site and found several dismantled tower components on the ground. Further investigation revealed that additional tower members had been removed from the fallen tower and carted away. Moreover, Towers T7, T33, and T34 had been tampered with, resulting in a temporary disruption of bulk power supply through the Eket and Ekim 132/33kV Transmission Substations, as well as the Ibom Power Station.

As a consequence, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company will be unable to distribute power to its customers in Eket and Ekim towns. TCN has commenced mobilizing resources to facilitate the reconstruction and restoration of the collapsed tower and transmission line as soon as possible. The company emphasized that vandalism poses a serious threat to the stability of the nation’s transmission system and urged host communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities around transmission installations to security operatives or the nearest TCN office.

The fight against vandalism of power infrastructure is a collective responsibility, and TCN called on all stakeholders to join hands in protecting these critical national assets from further attacks. The incident highlights the need for increased security measures to prevent such incidents, which can have significant economic and social implications for affected communities. TCN’s prompt response and efforts to restore power supply are crucial in minimizing the impact of the outage on the daily lives of residents and businesses in the affected areas.