The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Osogbo Region, has declared force majeure on its Offa 132kV Transmission Substation following a violent invasion by heavily armed men in the early hours of Thursday, May 7, 2026.
The attackers reportedly breached the facility’s security, stormed the control room, and held all on-duty personnel hostage at gunpoint during the operation.
According to a statement issued by Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, the gunmen forced the operators to open both the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders at approximately 12:45 a.m.
The situation escalated as the attackers demanded a total shutdown of the entire substation, during which they tampered with critical infrastructure, including control switches and relay buttons.
The facility’s 40MVA transformer was also forcefully opened at approximately 1:07 a.m., disrupting the bulk power supply to the region.
The ordeal lasted for several minutes before the attackers retreated, allowing the technical team to begin emergency restoration efforts.
The statement by the TCN confirmed that the 40MVA transformer was successfully restored to service by 1:13 a.m., followed by the Offa 33kV feeder at 1:14 a.m.
The final stage of the recovery was completed at 2:15 a.m. when the Ojoku 33kV feeder was brought back online, stabilizing the local grid.
The power company has expressed regret over the trauma experienced by its staff and the resulting inconvenience to consumers, the declaration of force majeure highlights the severity of the security breach and its impact on operational mandates.
The company further reaffirmed its commitment to the efficient transmission of bulk electricity and is expected to work closely with security agencies to investigate the motive behind the targeted assault on the critical national asset.
