Residents of Birnin Kebbi and surrounding communities have been thrown into darkness following the collapse of three transmission towers near Yauri town in Kebbi State, disrupting power supply to large parts of the state capital.

The incident, which occurred over the weekend, has caused significant hardship for residents and businesses that depend on electricity for their daily operations, with entire neighborhoods experiencing prolonged blackouts.

Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Head of Corporate Communication at the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KADECO), confirmed the development in a statement released on Monday.

"We regret to inform you of the current epileptic power supply in your areas. This is due to the unfortunate incident involving the collapse of three transmission towers near Yauri town," the statement read.

Local businesses have begun counting their losses as the power outage continues. Malam Idris Suleiman, a trader in the Bayan Kara area of Birnin Kebbi, lamented the impact on his cold drink business.

"This is a serious problem for us. We were not even informed on time. My freezer has been off since Sunday morning, and I'm already counting losses," he said.

The blackout has also raised safety concerns among residents. Hadiza Usman, a local resident, expressed worry over rumors of unusual circumstances surrounding the incident.

"There was a rumour that a loud sound was heard around the Yauri axis before the blackout. We are scared because this is unusual. The government must act fast," she stated.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reportedly mobilized contractors to begin re-erection of the fallen towers. Meanwhile, Kaduna Electric says it is rationing limited power supply from the Kaduna axis to maintain essential services and infrastructure.

"We are hopeful that the work will be completed as soon as possible," the company added in its statement.

Community leaders and residents from affected areas are calling for urgent intervention from both state and federal governments to address the situation, particularly as temperatures continue to rise in the state.

The power outage comes at a particularly challenging time for residents who rely on electricity for cooling systems during the hot season, adding to growing concerns about the stability of Nigeria's power infrastructure.