The Transmission Company of Nigeria's Offa 132 kV Transmission Substation in Kwara State was invaded by heavily armed gunmen in the early hours of Thursday, 7 May 2026. The attackers forced their way into the control room, held all on-duty personnel hostage, and compelled the operator to shut down critical power feeders. At exactly 12:45 am, they ordered the opening of the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders, followed by a total shutdown of the substation. TCN spokesperson Mbah confirmed the incident, stating that the assailants tampered with control switches, relay buttons, and opened the 40MVA transformer at approximately 1:07 am. The company declared force majeure due to the attack. Power supply was partially restored when the 40MVA transformer was re-energized at 1:13 am, the Offa 33kV feeder restored at 1:14 am, and the Ojoku 33kV feeder brought back online at 2:15 am. Mbah expressed regret over the disruption and assured the public that operations were stabilizing after the breach. The motive of the attackers remains unconfirmed, and no group has claimed responsibility. Security agencies have been informed, and investigations are ongoing into how the armed men gained access to the high-security facility. TCN reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring grid stability despite the sabotage.
The attackers selectively targeted feeder lines and a major transformer, suggesting prior knowledge of the substation's operational layout. This level of precision raises questions about possible insider involvement in the sabotage. The swift restoration of power does not erase the vulnerability exposed in a critical national infrastructure node. A breach of this nature at a transmission hub underscores systemic security gaps that go beyond mere armed intrusion.
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