Katsina State Residents Decry Activities Of Scrap Scavengers 

Some residents of Katsina state have decried the activities of scrap metal scavengers who often destroy public and people’s property to cart away iron rods, metal objects and electric cables.

The residents spoke in separate interviews on Tuesday in Katsina state.

They pointed out that such scavengers do come out as early as 6:00a.m., moving around from one place to another looking for scrap metal, iron rod, rubber, armoured and electric cables, as well as aluminum objects.

The residents further expressed concern that small children of school age were among those roaming the streets in search of those items in all parts of the state.

Dr. Habibu Kamilu, one of the residents, lamented that small children now enter people’s houses to steal such metal objects for onward sell to scrap dealers or their agents.

He said: “Sometimes these children even jump into uncompleted buildings to destroy lintel and steal iron rods.

“It is unfortunate that even Mosques are not safe from vandalism by such persons.

“They enter houses to steal metal and aluminum pots, padlock, and any type of metal objects that come to their way, and allegedly sell them to metal scrap dealers to get money.”

He appealed to the state government to, as a matter of urgency, take measures to avert the spread of the menace and prevent such small children from indulging in thefts at tender ages.

Kamilu also urged scrap dealers to sanitise their business “by rejecting items from small children, people with questionable characters and desist from buying those items in the night.”

Another resident, Muhammad Abdullahi, lamented that scavengers vandalize signposts and other public property in search of cables, rods, metals and aluminium objects.

Abdullahi urged the state government to hasten taking measures that would check the menace.

Kabir Umar, another resident, expressed concern over the situation, and stressed the need for government to introduce some measures to eradicate the menace.

He said that the problem was becoming an issue of serious concern to households in particular and the society in general.

He therefore urged government to intensify efforts in organizing training for the youths to create job opportunities through vocational skills training to become self employed and self reliant.

NAN / Foluke Ibitomi