 has arrested 36 scavengers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on charges of possessing illicit drugs and weapons.){kind=link}
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 36 scavengers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on charges of possessing illicit drugs and weapons.
Olusola Odumosu, the Commandant of the NSCDC FCT Command, confirmed the arrests on Friday in Abuja, noting that the suspects were detained in various locations across the city.
The move follows a directive from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who recently imposed a two-week ban on scavengers’ activities and suspended the operations of pan-takers within the territory.
According to Odumosu, the items seized from the suspects included four daggers, three jack knives, two chisels, and three knives, along with narcotic substances such as ten bottles of codeine syrup and 45 wraps of cannabis sativa.
Additionally, the NSCDC
recovered trash bags and pieces of iron rods from the suspects.
“The suspects are currently undergoing investigation and profiling, and we will ensure that proper legal procedures are followed for their prosecution,” Odumosu assured the public.
The NSCDC Commandant urged residents of the FCT to dispose of their waste through official waste management services and avoid engaging scavengers, known locally as “Baba Nbola,” to ensure their safety.
He emphasized that the arrests were made to curb the growing problem of vandalism and theft of public infrastructure, including manhole covers, streetlights, solar panels, and armored cables.
Odumosu also warned that many of these scavengers, who roam the streets of the FCT under the guise of collecting scrap materials, are involved in more serious criminal activities.
“Although they may seem harmless, they are often dangerous individuals engaged in vandalizing infrastructure, which has led to the harm or death of innocent people,” he said.
Further investigations revealed that some of these scavengers act as informants for criminals, observing and profiling residents based on their waste disposal, which could expose personal information, including lifestyle and social status.
Odumosu called for public cooperation with security agencies to eliminate these criminals from the streets.
“We urge residents to report any suspicious scavenger activity, particularly in their neighborhoods, streets, and estates, and to chase them away when seen loitering,” he added.