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Imo Assembly Adopts Motion To Regulate Scavengers

Says They Pose Serious Security Threat

Published

Friday, September 20, 2024 at 12:53 PM

Written by Agbai Ogele Omerikpo

Imo Assembly Adopts Motion To Regulate Scavengers

The Imo State House of Assembly has adopted a motion urging the government to regulate the activities of scrap metal scavengers in the state.

Moving the motion at Friday plenary, the member representing Ngor/Okpala Constituency, Hon Obinna Egu observed that many metal scrap scavengers indulge in illegal activities such as theft, vandalism of components of electricity transformers, spying and releasing of vital security information to kidnappers and hoodlums.

According to him, these activities of scavengers have caused serious security threat within and around communities and neighborhoods, both in the rural and urban areas of the state.

ALSO READ: https://nigerdeltaconnect.com/abia-postpones-planned-restrictions-on-tricycles-motorcycles

Hon Egu further argued that the motion was not aimed at discouraging scavengers from earning decent living, but insisted that what ordinarily should have been a legitimate business in recycling materials from waste to wealth has, regrettably, become a huge source of security threat in Imo State.

He said, "I have heard stories, and it has become regular, of how these scavengers jump into people's compounds, making away with their properties, such as generators, car batteries, washed clothes, television sets, just anything on sight.

“They have become criminal elements but choose to hide under the cover of "Iron Condemn" to carry out their criminal acts. They are everywhere in the state.

“Now that Nigeria is seriously facing security threats, there is therefore the urgent need to know who these people are. We need to curtail their activities".

The lawmaker therefore called on his colleagues to lend their voices in support of the motion, so as to ensure that the source of security threat in the state is minimized.

The motion which received support from members present at plenary, was seconded by Hon Innocent Ikpamezie, member representing Mbaitoli Constituency and co-sponsored by 10 other members namely Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu(Nwangele); Kanayo Onyemaechi (Owerri West); Clinton Amadi (Owerri Municipal); Johnson Duru (Ideato South) and Francis Osuoha.

The rest were Gilbert Nwosu, Innocent Ikpamezie, Johnleoba Iheoha, Ikenna Ihezuo and James Uba Esile.

In their separate submissions, the members commended Hon Obinna Egu for the motion, which they described as a save-our-soul motion.

According to them, most of the scrap metal scavengers are security threats in the state, going by the litany of woes and criminal acts associated with them, such as cutting iron railings of walkways provided by the state government, stealing goats and putting them in sack bags and abduction of children.

The lawmakers therefore called for urgent measures to be put in place to check the worrisome activities of scavengers before it snowballs into what may no longer be controlled by government.

In his remarks, the Speaker Hon Chike Olemgbe, noted that the activities of the scrap metal scavengers have not only become worrisome but also called for an urgent action.

Hon Olemgbe put the motion to vote and it was unanimously adopted.

The speaker thereafter requested the Clerk Barr Chinelo Emeghara to communicate the resolution of the House to the Governor to direct the Ministry of Homeland Security and other relevant agencies to check the activities of the scrap metal scavengers in the state.

Edited By: Chinedu Eze

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Imo Assembly Adopts Motion To Regulate Scavengers

The Imo State House of Assembly has adopted a motion urging the government to regulate the activities of scrap metal scavengers in the state.

According to him, these activities of scavengers have caused serious security threat within and around communities and neighborhoods, both in the rural and urban areas of the state.

ALSO READ: https://nigerdeltaconnect.com/abia-postpones-planned-restrictions-on-tricycles-motorcycles

Hon Egu further argued that the motion was not aimed at discouraging scavengers from earning decent living, but insisted that what ordinarily should have been a legitimate business in recycling materials from waste to wealth has, regrettably, become a huge source of security threat in Imo State.

He said, "I have heard stories, and it has become regular, of how these scavengers jump into people's compounds, making away with their properties, such as generators, car batteries, washed clothes, television sets, just anything on sight.

“They have become criminal elements but choose to hide under the cover of "Iron Condemn" to carry out their criminal acts. They are everywhere in the state.

“Now that Nigeria is seriously facing security threats, there is therefore the urgent need to know who these people are. We need to curtail their activities".

The lawmaker therefore called on his colleagues to lend their voices in support of the motion, so as to ensure that the source of security threat in the state is minimized.

The rest were Gilbert Nwosu, Innocent Ikpamezie, Johnleoba Iheoha, Ikenna Ihezuo and James Uba Esile.

In their separate submissions, the members commended Hon Obinna Egu for the motion, which they described as a save-our-soul motion.

The lawmakers therefore called for urgent measures to be put in place to check the worrisome activities of scavengers before it snowballs into what may no longer be controlled by government.

In his remarks, the Speaker Hon Chike Olemgbe, noted that the activities of the scrap metal scavengers have not only become worrisome but also called for an urgent action.

Hon Olemgbe put the motion to vote and it was unanimously adopted.

The speaker thereafter requested the Clerk Barr Chinelo Emeghara to communicate the resolution of the House to the Governor to direct the Ministry of Homeland Security and other relevant agencies to check the activities of the scrap metal scavengers in the state.

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