Gunmen attack Kwara TCN workers, shut power station

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Some armed men on Thursday invaded the Offa 132kV Transmission Substation in Kwara State and held workers hostage at gunpoint, the Transmission Company of Nigeria has reported.

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As a result, the TCN said it had declared force majeure on the Offa 132kV substation.

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In a statement issued on Saturday by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, the company said the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday.

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Mbah said the attackers forced their way into the control room and compelled operators to shut down critical feeders supplying electricity from the station.

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She said the armed men ordered the operator on duty to open the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders before demanding a total shutdown of the substation.

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“The Transmission Company of Nigeria, Osogbo Region, has declared force majeure on its Offa 132kV Transmission Substation following a robbery incident at the facility. The substation was invaded by heavily armed men who forcefully gained access to the control room and held all personnel on duty hostage at gunpoint.

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“The attackers ordered the operator on duty to open both the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders at exactly 12:45 am on Thursday, May 7, 2026. They further demanded a total shutdown of the substation,” Mbah said.

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The TCN spokesperson further revealed that the attackers tampered with key control equipment during the operation.

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“During the incident, control switches and relay buttons were tampered with, and the 40MVA transformer was opened at approximately 1:07 am,” she stated.

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The company, however, said supply was gradually restored shortly after the incident.

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Mbah explained that the 40MVA transformer was restored at 1:13 am, the Offa 33kV feeder was restored at 1:14 am, and the Ojoku 33kV feeder was restored at 2:15 am.

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She said TCN regretted the inconvenience caused by the attack and reaffirmed its commitment to efficient electricity transmission nationwide.

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“TCN regrets the inconvenience this incident may have caused and reaffirms its mandate to transmit bulk electricity efficiently to distribution companies’ load centres across the country,” the statement added.

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It could not be immediately ascertained why the gunmen wanted the power station shut down.

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