The Transmission Company of Nigeria has declared force majeure on the Offa 132kV Transmission Substation in Kwara State after a midnight robbery attack forced a temporary shutdown of the facility.
Announcing the development, TCN said the substation was overrun by heavily armed men who held staff hostage and compelled operators to shut down critical feeders supplying electricity to parts of the state.
“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,” the company said in a statement issued on Friday by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah.
According to TCN, the attackers ordered the operator on duty to open both the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders at exactly 12:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026, before demanding a total shutdown of the transmission station.
During the incident, the assailants tampered with control switches and relay buttons, leading to the shutdown of the 40MVA transformer at about 1:07 a.m.
Power supply was, however, restored shortly after the attackers left the facility. TCN disclosed that the 40MVA transformer was brought back on stream at 1:13 a.m., while the Offa 33kV feeder was restored at 1:14 a.m. and the Ojoku feeder at 2:15 a.m.
The declaration of force majeure indicates that the company may not be held liable for disruptions arising from circumstances beyond its control.
TCN expressed regret over the incident and its impact on electricity supply to affected areas.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria 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.
The attack underscores growing concerns over the security of critical power infrastructure across the country, amid repeated incidents of vandalism and sabotage affecting electricity transmission.
