Recently, the activities of Scrap metal scavengers in the South East Nigeria have become source of worry in the zone
Residents lament as their homes are being broken, belongings carted away by these cart pushers scavenging for scrap metals
S/E governors frown at their activities, ban the movement of cart pushers, make strict law against the defaulters
In recent times, the activities of the iron scavengers in the south East Nigeria have become worrisome.
Some decades ago, these scavengers were seen as the economically disadvantaged in the society who wanted to eke out a living through picking of scrap metals.
However, with the advancement of the business, many business-minded persons in the zone saw the hidden treasury in the trade, leading to all sorts of criminal tendencies in the business.
Nevertheless, in the last decade, there has been sordid stories of how these scavengers have turned nightmare by breaking into building at broad day light, carting belongings in the name of “iron condemn.”
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Many of such alleged criminal elements are mainly hired and equipped with carts by the scrap yard owners to scavenge for metals but they end up stealing by breaking into new buildings, removing burglar proofs, carting away with motorbikes and depositing same to their paymasters.
Residents recount their ugly experiences
In any case, narrating his ugly experience, Mr. Marcel Okafor told WITHIN NIGERIA that iron scavengers have literally dealt with him financially.
“Two years ago, I packed my spoilt motorbike in my compound in Eha-Alumona, Nsukka local government area of Enugu state. After about three weeks, I noticed that one of the wheels has been removed. The next week, the motorbike together with some scrap iron drums have been carted away by these scavengers.”
Speaking further, Okafor told our reporter that, “I was pained by this loss, so I had to go to some scrap yards around our area, yet I could see my motorbike. That’s when I began to see these scavengers as criminals.”
Joseph Mgbada, a native of Ikwo, Ebonyi state also narrated that “about three years ago, these iron scavengers entered my building site and stole some rods worth over N100,000 in the name of scrap metal. It was with the help of the community vigilante that they were able to catch them and recover the rods from these criminals. Few months later, another group of scavengers came to the same site and removed my burglar proofs in the name of scraps.”
Anambra state bans scrap scavengers
By and large, as the activities of these scavengers become more predatory, many states in the zone became fed up with them and so banned them from scavenging for irons openly.
On September 13, 2024, the Anambra government issued a statement, prohibiting the operations of condemned iron scavengers otherwise known as “ndi akpakara” or “iron kwandem” in the state.s
The government said the activities of the scavengers are now tantamount to robbery.
Paul Nwosu, commissioner for information, said traders doing legitimate scrap metal business should go to the ministry of environment for recertification.
In his words, “the nuisance value of the ubiquitous ‘Iron Kwandem’ scavengers can no longer be tolerated for they now constitute a pain in the neck of society as their activities are adversely affecting the economy of the state and the country at large,” the statement reads.
“They steal the metal coverings of gutters, the iron medians on the highways and the steel railings on the sides of the motorways.
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“They have become so brazen in dismantling and wrecking public utilities that you begin to wonder if they have special licenses to do what they are doing because they dare where nobody with conscience will risk.
“They removed and carted away most of the iron components of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, fence facing the ever busy Enugu-Awka expressway.
“Shortly after the celebrated second Niger Bridge was commissioned, the side-bars, beams and the heavy steel sheets interlocking segments of the bridge were yanked off by these devil-may-care ‘Iron Kwandem’ scavengers.
“No responsible government will stand by and watch this sheer act of lawlessness persist. They cannot be allowed to continue in the evil act of stealing private and public metal objects across the board.
“Anybody doing business with them will be equally arrested and prosecuted because it amounts to receiving stolen property.
“Ndi-Anambra should see it as a patriotic duty to report the activities of the Condemned Iron scavengers to SASA or OCHA Brigade for immediate arrest and prosecution.”
The statement added that the Anambra government has delineated the difference between “the illegal condemned iron scavengers and the traders doing legitimate scrap metal business”.
Enugu government bans scavengers
Earlier in January, having been concerned about the growing security threats posed by the activities of these scavengers and cart pushers, the Enugu State government placed ban on their operations, warning that scavengers and cart pushers caught would be prosecuted.
The affirmation of the proscription of the scavengers and their activities popularly called, “Iron Condemn” in local parlance, was disclosed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, after an elaborate meeting with the leadership and representatives of the Hausa/Fulani Community and their Igbo and Yoruba counterparts at the Government House, Enugu.
Lamenting that hundreds of petitions had been received from members of the public protesting against the activities of the illegal waste pickers, the SSG said enforcement of the ban, arrest and prosecution of violators would commence on Monday, 29 January, 2024.
Prof. Onyia observed that scavengers with evil motives were infiltrating the state, breaking into people’s homes and stealing their valuables, while adding that the state is determined to protect life of the citizens and safeguard their properties against intruders.
Citing section 20 of Enugu State Environmental Law, Prof. Onyia said anyone caught scavenging within the state risks 2 years imprisonment, calling on residents to be on the lookout for would-be-violators and report the to the nearest police station or the taskforce set up for that purpose.
“Enugu State Government is determined to protect every life and property of our citizens. That is our primary responsibility. We will ensure that every threat to the security and peace of the state is eliminated.
“The government will no longer condone the activities of scavengers in the state. We have to rid of the state of every vestige of crimes by restoring sanity. We want to assure all residents in the state who are into genuine business that we will continue to work towards making the environment safer for them.
“You will recall that sometime in November 2023, after reports from residents complaining about harassment and theft from scavengers and illegal waste pickers, the government set up a committee to assess the extent of the threats scavengers posed to the wellbeing of our law-abiding citizens.
“It was established that criminals are now roaming the streets posing as scavengers. Following this establishment, the government activated the law that provides against scavenging activities by outlawing these illegal operators.
“However, as government with empathy and humane face, we allowed for time to communicate the order. During the period, it was observed that more of the scavengers had infiltrated the state.
“So, we are now determined to enforce the law. This should serve as a warning to scavengers in the state. By Monday, the state taskforce will be out to give full effect to the proscription,” he added.
The state government further called on the law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute unrepentant scavengers and make examples of them.
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WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that residents in the state have been appealing to the government to tackle the menace of the scavengers and rid them out of the streets.
Findings showed that a few weeks before the ban, security operatives recovered a set of dangerous arms, including guns and machetes from scavengers arrested at Agbani Road, Gariki and Ogbete Market areas of the state.
Imo state abrogates activities of iron scavengers
On September 18, 2024 the Imo state government state government followed suit and banned activities of the iron scavengers in the state.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that in a bid to foster a more secure environment and curb insecurity in the state, the Imo State House Of Assembly has moved to restrict and regulate the activities of scavengers who indulge in scrap metal scavenging, otherwise known as “Iron Condemn”.
This was as a result of the Motion Chiefly sponsored by the Member Representing Ngor/Okpala State Constituency, Hon Obinna Egu, during plenary on Wednesday, 18/09/2024, and titled : MOTION TO URGE THE IMO STATE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND VIGILANTE AFFAIRS AND OTHER SECURITY RELATED AGENCIES TO CHECKMATE THE UGLY ACTIVITIES OF SCRAP METAL SCAVENGERS.
Moving the Motion, the Ngor/Okpala Representative observed that many metal scrappers (scavengers) indulge in illegal activities such as theft, vandalism of major components of electricity transformers, spying and releasing of vital security information to kidnappers and hoodlums, which according to him has caused serious security threat within and around communities and neighbourhoods, both in the rural areas and in the urban areas of the state. Hon Obinna Egu further argued that the Motion was not aimed at discouraging scavengers from earning decent living, but insisted that what ordinarily should have been a legitimate business in recycling materials from waste to wealth has, regrettably, become a huge source of security threat in Imo State.
In his words, the only voice from Ngor/Okpala said, “I have heard stories, and it has become regular, of how these scavengers jump into people’s compounds, making away with their properties, such as generators, car batteries, washed clothes, television sets, just anything on sight. They have become criminal elements but chose to hide under the cover of “Iron Condemn” to carry out their criminal acts. They are everywhere in the state. Now that Nigeria is seriously facing security threats, there is therefore the urgent need to know who these people are. We need to curtail their activities”.
The vibrant and ebullient lawmaker thereafter called on his Honourable Colleagues to lend their voices in support of the Motion, so as to ensure that the source of security threat in the state is minimized.
The Motion which received popular support from Honourable Members present at plenary, was seconded by Hon Engr Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie, Member Representing Mbaitoli State Constituency and was co-sponsored by the following 10 Honourable Members :
Showing support to the Chief Sponsor, Hon Obinna Egu, six Honourable Members made commendable contributions to the Motion.
In their respective submissions, they commended Hon Obinna Egu for coming up with the Motion, which was rightly described as a Save-Our-Soul Motion. According to them, the Motion came at the right time, insisting that most of the scrap metal scavengers are security threats in the state, going by the litany of woes and criminal acts associated with them, such as even cutting iron railings of walkways provided by the State Government, stealing goats and putting them in sack bags, abduction of little children etc. The Honourable Members therefore called for urgent measures to be put in place to check the worrisome activities of “Iron Condemn” Scavengers before it snowballs into what may no longer be controlled by government.
In his remark, the Speaker of the Imo State House Of Assembly, Rt Honourable Chike Olemgbe, noted that the activities of these scrap metal scavengers have not only become worrisome but have called for urgent attention.
Satisfied with contributions from Honourable Members, Rt Honourable Olemgbe put it to vote and it was unanimously adopted. Thereafter, he Ruled as follows :
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Be It Resolved By This Honourable House To Urge The Imo State Government Through The Ministry Of Homeland Security And Vigilante Affairs And Other Security Related Agencies To Checkmate The Ugly Activities Of Scrap Metal Scavengers In Imo State, To Guarantee A More Peaceful Environment Within The State.
The Clerk was directed to communicate the Resolution of the House to His Excellency the Governor.
Abia community bans scrap scavengers
On October 29, 2024 Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, has commended his Ohafia kinsmen for banning metal scrap scavengers from operating in the community following their alleged link with incidents of theft and other criminal activities in the area.
The Deputy Governor spoke at Amaekpu Ohafia during Ohafia Dialogue organised by Mben Political Assembly to advance the development of Ohafia nation.
He lamented the vandalism of Ohafia electricity installation along Itu-Ututu-Ihie-Ohafia 33KVA line by hoodlums, which many alleged to be the handiwork of scrap metal scavengers, saying it had stalled socio-economic development in the area.
He decried the activities of vandals popularly known as Ndi Akpakara in the area.
The Deputy Governor recalled his personal efforts to actualise the Ohafia electricity project only for it to be vandalised by hoodlums.
Emetu saluted the courage of Ohafia Council of Monarchs, saying the ban will help restore sanity in the area.
The Deputy Governor, however, commended the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal constituency, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, for drawing the attention of the National Assembly to the electricity challenges of his constituents.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that in Ebonyi state, there has not been pronounced ban on the scrap metal scavengers by the state government but residents are said to not be happy with their criminal activities.
Our source revealed that many communities have written to the state government, requesting for their outright; a request which seemed to have being falling on the deaf ears of the state government.
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