Author: Phlippages
A Maiduguri based business man identified as Dabarju Anarju has been arrested for illegally tapping power from the generator meant to power the street light.
The business man used the street light supply to power heavy duty equipments in his shop located at NUJ, New GRA, where he sold drinks, ice blocks and other provisions.
He was also accused of extending the space of his shop illegally, encroaching on a public road.
According to the Executive Secretary of BOGIS (Borno Geographic Information System) Engr. Adam B. Bababe, the shop had been marked in January for demolition, for illegal expansion in to the road. Which was later discovered after investigation, to be part of a ploy to tap the street lights power supply to run his private business.
Following his arrest by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, his shop was later brought down by BOGIS on June 21.
The shop owner was reported by members of the community to NSCDC and BOGIS.
It cannot be established how long the busines man had been in the act but he was also accused of bribing ‘some people’ to cover up his action. It was reported that 21 fridges were found in the shop while 6 were connected using an underground cable to the street light power supply.
The streetlight operator for the area became suspicious and asked them how the fridges were powered as there was no sound of generator.
To confirm what he already suspected, the operator shut down the generator powering the street light in the area and the shop went into darkness. The NSCDC was informed and they swung in to action.
