By Ubong Sampson — Uyo
The business and activity of scrap scavenging will henceforth cease in all parts of Akwa Ibom state, as government in the state has placed a ban on the business.
A release by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Tuesday, made this known, describing the scavengers as threat to public peace and human lives.
The immediate cause of the ban is a recent murder of an indigene in Afaha Oku by some scavengers who had invaded the premises of the deceased in the Afaha Oku area of Uyo, the state’s capital.
The deceased was murdered in cold blood after attempting to prevent the scavengers from carting away items they had invaded the premises for, afterwhich, the scavengers were attacked and killed by an angry mob.
The government in the release also noted as remote causes for the ban, past activities by scavengers in the state that either caused threats to environmental peace, human life, as well as loss of lives, particularly noting a case in Oruk Anam Local Government Area where multiple explosions, causing fatalities, were recorded last year, in the course of scavengers sorting out what turned out to be military brand explosives, and which led to the loss of about four lives.
“The Government of Akwa Ibom State has, with immediate effect, banned the activities of scrap scavengers in the State. This follows several incidents of grave infractions including acts of criminality and threat to peaceful inter-ethnic relationship in the state by operators of this enterprise.
“The action of Government is also in consonance with public sentiments amidst popular complaints against the activities of these scavengers who wantonly violate peoples properties, stealing and assaulting law abiding citizens in the process”, the release partly read.
According to the statement, Sundays appear to be the busiest day for these scavengers who, the statement noted, take advantage of mass church attendance to invade homes and cart away valuables, leaving hapless citizens with tales of woe upon their return from Church.
“As a responsible Government, we can no longer tolerate the activities of this industry which evidently is in no way adding value to the socio-economic well being of the state but rather escalating tensions and threatening the overall peace and security of the State. Accordingly, the operations of scrap scavengers in the State is banned forthwith. Violators of this ban will be apprehended and dealt with according to the law” the release read further.
