Updated: Police Parade Dozens Of Scavengers In Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory on Monday paraded no fewer than 98 metal scavengers, popularly called baban bola, arrested from across the city.

The suspects were arrested in an “overnight” operation on Sunday from divisions including Wuse, Apo, Durumi, Garki, Lifecamp, Karimo following the ban on scavenging in the FCT.

DCP Ben Igweh, who represented the FCT Police Commissioner, Sunday Babaji said many of these suspects have been found guilty of armed robbery and other criminal activities. In other cases, Igweh said, they act as informants to criminals.

“We are unrelenting in our resolve to rid the FCT of these scavengers. Their influx to the FCT is constituting a security threat to the FCT and we would start arresting them,” he said

He acknowledged that although some of them come into the city and resort to scavenging to cater to the needs of their families, “many of them come in as bad people”.

He added, “we are not saying they shouldn’t come. They should find other things to do.”

The police had recovered exhibits including Manhole Lid, reportedly removed between Sheraton and National Mosque.

Igweh disclosed that the suspects steal these lids, melt them and sell them. Another exhibit was the hook and line weapon.

“The Commissioner of Police while urging critical stakeholders to continue to partner with the Police in riding the Territory of these misfits, wishes to reassure the general public that beyond this, the Command is resolute on fighting crime and criminality to ensure a relatively peaceful FCT for all and sundry.

“As usual, the Command urges the good people of the FCT to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or abnormal occurrence to the Police through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, While the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached on: 0902 222 2352.”

On March 22, the FCT Police Command ordered a massive arrest of metal scavengers following a public complaint on the fast-rising issue of vandalism and theft of individual, private and public property including important national infrastructure, perpetrated under the cover of metal waste scavengers.