The Edo State Government on Wednesday intensified its clampdown on vandalism, announcing the arrest of six suspected scavengers, popularly known as “condemn iron” dealers, for allegedly destroying public infrastructure in Benin City.
The government also issued a 21-day ultimatum to scavengers occupying the Lagos Street moat and its environs to vacate the area, as part of efforts to restore order and protect public assets in the state capital.
Chairman of the Edo State Public Property Protection Committee, Eugene Okoloise, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Benin City, expressing concern over the increasing spate of vandalism linked to scrap dealers.
“We have arrested about six of them. They are currently in police custody and will be charged to court on Monday. They will be made to face the full weight of the law,” Okoloise said.
He stressed that the state government would no longer tolerate acts of sabotage against public infrastructure, warning that decisive action would be taken against offenders.
“We cannot continue like this. We cannot, under the guise of avoiding allegations of marginalisation, allow individuals to destroy government property. We have accommodated them, but that does not give anyone the right to wreck infrastructure,” he stated.
On the occupation of moats in Lagos Street, Okoloise issued a firm directive for immediate relocation.
“We have given them 21 days to vacate the moats and find proper accommodation. You cannot live inside a moat and expect to be treated with dignity,” he said.
He further decried the level of destruction carried out by the scavengers, citing the vandalisation of facilities at Fabiyi Akpata Primary School.
“They have stripped the school of its chairs and roofing sheets. This is unacceptable. If they want to continue operating in this state, they must take responsibility and fix what they have destroyed,” he added.
Responding, Chairman of the Scrap Dealers Association in Edo State, Alhaji Abbas Garuba, said the association had introduced measures to regulate the activities of its members and curb criminality within the sector.
“We have set working hours from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Anyone operating outside these hours is not one of us. We have also banned operations on Sundays, as we observed that most thefts occur on that day,” Garuba said.
He assured that the association would collaborate with authorities to identify and sanction illegal operators tarnishing the image of legitimate scrap dealers.
