- Odumosu disclosed that investigations showed some scavengers act as informants for armed robbers, kidnappers, and other criminal gangs.
Thirty six scavengers have been arrested across Abuja for alleged involvement in plethora criminal activities.
The suspects were arrested by Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Federal Capital Territory Command as part of what the security agency said is a crackdown on scavengers, locally known as Baban bola.
The FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, told newsmen that the suspects were apprehended in various parts of the city centre and suburbs for their crimes, including vandalism and theft of public infrastructure.
The arrests followed directives from the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to ban scavenging in the territory and suspend commercial activities in Pantaker Markets for two weeks.
“These individuals were arrested for engaging in criminal acts under the guise of scavenging. They vandalise manhole covers, streetlights, solar panels, and other public infrastructure to sell as scrap, causing significant damage to the city’s infrastructure,” he stated.
The commandant revealed that the suspects were also linked to robbery, theft of household items, and other criminal activities.
Recovered items included four daggers, three jackknives, chisels, iron rods, narcotic substances, codeine syrup, and wraps of cannabis.
Odumosu disclosed that investigations showed some scavengers act as informants for armed robbers, kidnappers, and other criminal gangs.
“The most vital is that many of them work as informants for armed robbers, kidnappers, hired assassins, terrorists, bandits, and all sorts of criminal gangs.
“Many families have fallen victim to kidnapping, abduction for ransom, murder, assassination, and the like because they give information about your family, the number of children you have, the types of cars you drive, where you work, and by extension, keep tabs on your movements,” he said.
He reiterated the FCT administration’s zero-tolerance stance on scavenging in the city and warned that any violators would face prosecution
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