• Again, terrorists bomb Damaturu-Maiduguri 330KV transmission line
• Ufeli sues FG over non-prosecution of alleged terrorism financiers
At least 17 members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) have drowned while attempting to cross a river along the Nigeria-Niger Republic border, according to counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama. He also disclosed, yesterday, that Boko Haram terrorists destroyed Damaturu-Maiduguri 330 Kilovolt transmission line barely three weeks after it was restored.
Meanwhile, a human rights advocate, Evans Ufeli, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking a judicial review and an order of mandamus compelling the Federal Government to prosecute individuals and entities allegedly financing terrorism in Nigeria.
The ISWAP members drowned between Kafetoa and Bulabulin Gaidam communities in Yobe State when they were caught by strong water currents and swept away. Makama stated that the fighters had been displaced from key bases, including Bulabulin Geidam, Chettimari and Diffan, all along the Nigeria-Niger border.
ISWAP has been involved in terrorism across Nigeria’s North East and has come under increasing pressure from the Nigerian military in recent months. According to Makama, the terrorists blew up the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) infrastructure with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), yesterday.
The development plunged Maiduguri and its environs into complete darkness.
“The attackers used IEDs to blow up the facility around 2.00 a.m., plunging Maiduguri and surrounding areas back into darkness. This marks a repeated targeting of the critical infrastructure by insurgents,” the post read.
The TCN, which had restored the line on September 4, 2024, following its earlier destruction by terrorists, has yet to officially speak on the latest incident as of the time of filing this report.
In June, TCN stated that two of its towers, T193 and T194, along the 330KV single circuit in the axis were vandalised. On December 28, 2023, towers T193, T194 and T195, were destroyed using improvised explosives.
Although TCN’s General Manager (Public Affairs), Ndidi Mbah, told The Guardian that the current situation might not have a link to Boko Haram, some stakeholders accused the company of broadcasting the repair of the line only for vandals to attack.
Instead of an explosion as in the previous two attacks, Mba said in the current situation, vandals cut off all four tower footings, causing the structure to collapse.
Disclosing that “Boko Haram doesn’t have such time,” Mba said the damage was discovered by TCN linesmen during an emergency patrol of the affected area. She noted that TCN engineers were working on an interim solution to restore power to the affected areas.
Damaturu is back-fed through a 33KV transmission line from Potiskum, while Maiduguri will receive electricity from the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP), Mba said, adding that simultaneously, efforts were underway to dismantle the collapsed tower and initiate reconstruction to restore the 330KV transmission line as quickly as possible.
TCN condemned the ongoing attacks on Nigeria’s critical power infrastructure, calling on citizens to safeguard national assets.
“We urge the public to report any suspicious activity or individual around transmission infrastructure to law enforcement or TCN offices in the area,” Mba said.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to swiftly restore bulk power to the affected regions and assured residents that the reconstruction of the tower would be expedited to minimise the disruption.
UFELI, through his legal representatives, is praying for a declaration that the Federal Government’s failure to prosecute those named on the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) website as terrorist financiers is a breach of its statutory duties.
The suit stems from the fact that the Federal Government had identified private individuals and Bureau de Change operators as facilitators of terrorism in Nigeria without any legal action ever since.
The applicant, citing the loss of a relative, who was among the victims of the tragic Abuja-Kaduna train attack, argued that credible intelligence on the involvement of the listed parties in acts of terrorism exists. He said the government’s inaction, despite the public naming and shaming on its sanctions committee platform, “is a violation of public trust and policy”.
The relief sought by Ufeli includes a judicial order compelling the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to immediately prosecute those listed, thereby addressing the growing insurgency and restoring the rule of law. The court has yet to assign a hearing date to the case.