News
Scavenging Outlawed on Abuja streets, activities restricted to dumpsites
Scavenging Outlawed on Abuja streets, activities restricted to dumpsites
By: Michael Mike
Scavengers activities have been restricted in and around the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to dumpsites as they have been warned against moving around either during the day or at night in the city.
The present ban followed the criminal activities of some scavengers popularly known as ‘baba nbolas’ in the area.
They have been alleged to be involved in carting away critical infrastructure especially manholes from the expressways in the city.
Parading 36 scavengers who were arrested with dangerous weapons and vandalized items, the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Dr Olusola Odumosu, said scavengers who roam the streets of FCT, indiscriminately, perpetrate all forms of criminal activities under the guise of scavenging.
According to him, the move by the FCT Administration was necessitated by the need to nip vandalism of public infrastructure such as manhole covers, streetlights, solar panels, armoured cables, and so on, in the bud.
Items recovered from the 36 suspects include four daggers, three jack knives, two chisels, three knives, two pinches and 10 bottles of codeine syrup.
Others are 45 wraps of indian hemps, thrash bags, pieces of iron rods and narcotic drugs.
The scavengers, he explained, go about the nooks and crannies of the city and satellite towns; house-to-house, estate-to-estate, scavenging for plastics, scrap metals and irons.
He said: “But from previous arrests, interrogations and investigations, we have realised that their real business is to vandalise and remove our road infrastructure such as: manhole covers, flood drain covers, streetlights, armoured cables, rail sleepers, iron rods for bridge enforcement and the likes, which would fetch them good money.
“The public also needs to know that some ‘Baba Nbolas’ now disguise to rob innocent commuters and bystanders as they go about with dangerous weapons to attack and disposes them of their personal belongings especially at night. Our record shows that many who dared to challenge them in the past had met their untimely deaths while others are maimed in various parts of the Federal Capital Territory” he said.
Many residents of the FCT and environs, Odumosu noted, have experienced sudden disappearances of many of their household items like generators, cooking pots, stoves, pressing iron, air conditioners, compressors, car batteries, security light panels, iron drain covers and so on.
“Scavengers are major suspects to most of such disappearances and they carry out these activities whenever they notice that there is no one in sight, but not without wielding dangerous weapons in case they are busted by the house owners.
“The most vital is that many of them work as informants for armed robbers, kidnappers, hired assassins, terrorists, bandits a#nd all sorts of criminal gangs. Many families have fallen victims of kidnapping, abduction for ransom, murder, assassination and the likes because they give information about your family, the number of children you have, the types of cars you drive, where you work and by extension, keeping tabs on your movement.
“They (baba nbola) also assess and profile you through the kind of household waste products you dispose which, in most cases, reveal your status and lifestyles.
Unfortunately, and in most cases, many of us perceive these miscreants and criminals as ordinary innocent, poor Nigerians, hustling for their daily bread so they move about unchecked and unquestioned by anyone, some of us even sympathise with them, by extending alms to them, whereas, they are responsible for the various crimes happening around you.
“Owing to these revelation and credible intelligence at our disposal, it is therefore imperative that citizens and residents join hands with the corps and other security agencies to flush out these dangerous elements in the FCT by chasing scavengers away whenever you see them in front of your houses, your streets, neighbourhood or estates.
“The public should note that, although, they appear innocent, armless and vulnerable, most of them are extremely dangerous, their activities are criminal in nature and they constitute threats not only to the safety and security of lives, property and infrastructure in the FCT but to Nigeria’s national security architecture as a whole” he noted.
The commandant used the occasion to advise FCT residents to dispose their refuse properly and stop patronising the Baba Nbolas for the sake of their own safety and that of their family members.
Scavenging Outlawed on Abuja streets, activities restricted to dumpsites
News
Military Airstrikes neutralized ISWAP Commanders, others in precision strike on Sambisa hideouts
Military Airstrikes neutralized ISWAP Commanders, others in precision strike on Sambisa hideouts
By: Zagazola Makama
The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has neutralised two senior terrorist commanders, Saddam and Saleh Garin Kago, alongside other fighters, in a precision air interdiction (AI) mission at Yuwe in the Sambisa general area of Borno.
Sources who disclosed this to Zagazola said that the early morning strike also eliminated Hussaini Ubaida and Ba Alayi Benbem, while destroying identified terrorist command hideouts and logistics warehouses.
The sources said the mission was executed at about 6:08 a.m. on Friday following confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) on structures suspected to be terrorists’ commanders’ hideouts and storage facilities within the Yuwe axis.
“Upon confirmation of the targets, various military aircraft and platform, departed base to prosecute the mission. On reaching the objective area, the aircraft acquired and engaged the selected targets with precision-guided stores onboard,” he said.
The sources noted that post-strike battle damage assessment indicated that the identified command hubs and warehouses were effectively destroyed, significantly degrading the operational capacity of the terrorists in the Sambisa corridor.
According to the source, efforts were ongoing to confirm the identities of additional casualties resulting from the strike.
The military high command of Operation Hadin Kai has reaffirmed its commitment to sustain intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling terrorist leadership structures, disrupting supply chains and denying insurgents safe havens.
They stressed that the theartre command will continue to work in synergy with the Air component and other security agencies, to intensify its operations to consolidate recent gains and restore lasting peace in the North-East.
Military Airstrikes neutralized ISWAP Commanders, others in precision strike on Sambisa hideouts
Four die, 18 injured in zakkat distribution stampede in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Four persons have died while 18 others sustained injuries following a stampede during the distribution of annual Ramadan Zakkat (alms) at a residence in Katsina metropolis.
Sources told Zagazola that the incident occurred at about 9:00 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the residence of Alhaji Dahiru Usman Sarki, located in Kofar Guga Quarters.
According to the sources, a large crowd had gathered at the residence to receive Ramadan alms when some individuals allegedly forced their way into the compound, triggering a stampede.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Central Police Station (CPS) Katsina, swiftly mobilised to the scene and was able to bring the situation under control.
As a result of the stampede, 18 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital, Katsina, for medical attention.
Four persons were later certified dead by a medical doctor. They were identified as Bilkisu Mamman, 40, of Kerau Quarters; Ihsan Musbahu, 40, of Abattoir Quarters; Aisha Sani, 16, of Kofar Sauri Quarters; and Salamatu Kabir, 45, of Sabuwar Unguwa Quarters.
Another victim, Hafsat Zubairu, 15, of Masanawa Quarters, was referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital for further medical evaluation.
Police authorities said the organisers of the Zakkat distribution had been invited for questioning, while investigation into the incident was ongoing.
Four die, 18 injured in zakkat distribution stampede in Katsina
News
Troops neutralise terrorists’ structures, arrest two logistics suppliers in Sabon Garin Fishingo in Borno
Troops neutralise terrorists’ structures, arrest two logistics suppliers in Sabon Garin Fishingo in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, Sector 2, have destroyed terrorist life-support structures and arrested two suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers during clearance operations around Sabon Gari Fishingo in Borno State.
Security sources told Zagazola that the troops, in conjunction with quasi-security forces, conducted the operation at about 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 28.
The troops reportedly made contact with terrorists at Kayawa and engaged them with superior firepower, forcing the insurgents to flee in disarray.
The fleeing terrorists abandoned two motorcycles and five bicycles at the scene. No casualty was recorded among the troops.
Following the encounter, the troops set ablaze structures believed to be used as life-support bases by the terrorists.
The operation later extended to Sabon Gari Fishingo, where troops conducted a cordon-and-search exercise.
During the operation, two suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers identified as Dahiru Haruna and Salele Lawali were arrested.
Items recovered from the suspects included a large quantity of drugs, medical consumables and one tricycle, popularly known as “Jega.”
Sources said the suspects were in custody for further investigation, while the recovered items were being documented.
The operation is part of sustained offensive actions under Operation Desert Sanity aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves and disrupting their logistics networks in the North-East.
Troops neutralise terrorists’ structures, arrest two logistics suppliers in Sabon Garin Fishingo in Borno
Military Airstrikes neutralized ISWAP Commanders, others in precision strike on Sambisa hideouts
Four die, 18 injured in zakkat distribution stampede in Katsina
Troops neutralise terrorists’ structures, arrest two logistics suppliers in Sabon Garin Fishingo in Borno
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News11 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
