Bandits Threaten Operations Of Shiroro Power Plant, TCN Cries Out

Bandits have killed policemen attached to the Shiroro Power Plant in Niger State and abduct some members of staff of the organization.

Consequently, the regional manager of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Engr Maiwada Sarki Bello has said the activities of bandits have posed threat to the maintenance of some transmission lines on the Shiroro- Kaduna 330KV Line.

He told journalists yesterday that the TCN efforts to replace obsolete equipment in the plant for better service to citizens had been seriously threatened.

Bello said due the activities of the bandits on the lines, the company could not respond to maintenance issues along transmitting lines.

He said the lines facing the challenges were the Shiroro -Kaduna 330KV, Shiroro-Kamtape 330KV line, Gwagwalada 330KV line, Shiroro -Tegina 132KV line and Redial Nature of Shiroro-Tegina-Kontagora-Yauri line.

“Last year one of our staff was picked by the bandits but he was released after three months in captivity. Again sometime ago, there were some faults along the Shiroro-Kaduna 330KV line,” he disclosed.

He added that “We deployed our engineers with security cover but unfortunately the team was attacked on site. Three policemen were killed but our staff survived the attack. One of the staff stayed three days in the bush before he came out after we had given up on him”.

Bello also disclosed that the company received threats from the bandits to blow up the dam.

The regional manager however added that “the Presidency has since deployed a military detachment along with other security agencies to effectively protect the facility.”

He said despite the insecurity challenges, TCN is resolute in replacing its obsolete equipment for better services to Nigerians.