From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, yesterday, paraded over 150 scavengers, popularly called ‘Baban Bola’, for their alleged involvement in armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and stealing of manholes, among other criminal activities in the FCT.
FCT police commissioner, Benneth Igweh, while parading the suspects before newsmen, in Abuja, said their arrest was in line with the ongoing measures by police to rid the city of all forms of criminality, particularly scavengers, who take advantage of their job to rob residents.
Igweh listed items recovered from the suspects to include guns, generators, machetes, hoes, daggers and charms, among others items.
He said: “In Zuba, we recovered two guns from seven Baban Bola and all people’s household items were recovered from them. So, they are not ordinary, many of them are not Nigerians. But, we are going to do our best to ensure the safety of all households of the FCT. It is the beginning of the cleansing. 300 of them have been remanded, yesterday, these are the remnants. The fight continues until the city is clean and clear of criminal elements and activities.”
The police commissioner, who raised concerns over the justice system and the sustainability of the fight against scavengers in the city, said the police will continue to do its job of arresting and cleansing the city of criminals and leave the courts to do its part.
He said: “Our plan is to take them off the road, if they like they should go to court 10 times and come out, and we will continue to take them to the court. One day, both we and the court will get tired of seeing them.”