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The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has declared force majeure on the Offa 132kV Transmission Substation in Kwara State after armed men reportedly stormed the facility and held workers hostage at gunpoint.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the company’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah.
According to the statement, the attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday when the gunmen forced their way into the control room of the substation and compelled operators on duty to shut down critical electricity feeders.
TCN said the attackers ordered staff to disconnect the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders before demanding a complete shutdown of the substation.
The company explained that the incident happened around 12:45 a.m., adding that the armed men also tampered with major control systems and relay equipment during the operation.
It further stated that the 40MVA transformer at the station was disconnected shortly after the invasion, affecting operations at the facility.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria, Osogbo Region, has declared force majeure on its Offa 132 kV 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.
“The attackers ordered the operator on duty to open both the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders at exactly 12:45 am on Thursday, 7th May 2026. They further demanded a total shutdown of the substation,” Mbah said.
However, TCN noted that supply was gradually restored after the attackers left the premises. The company said the transformer was restored minutes later, followed by the reconnection of the Offa and Ojoku feeders.
Mbah said the company regretted the disruption caused by the incident and reaffirmed TCN’s commitment to maintaining stable electricity transmission across the country.
“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.
The motive behind the attack could not be immediately determined.
