“Stop ‘iron condemn’ scrap metal scavengers” – Katsina residents cry out
Katsina Map
Published By: Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
Residents of Katsina State have voiced serious concerns over the activities of scrap metal scavengers, who are allegedly damaging public and private property in their quest for valuable materials.
In an interview with NAN on Tuesday, residents described how scavengers, some as young as school-age children, are roving the streets as early as 6:00 a.m. in search of scrap metal, iron rods, rubber, armoured cables, and aluminum objects.
Dr. Habibu Kamilu, a concerned resident, noted a disturbing trend where young children are increasingly entering homes to steal metal items for resale. “Sometimes these children even jump into uncompleted buildings to destroy lintels and steal iron rods,” he lamented. Kamilu added that even mosques are not immune to the vandalism, with thieves targeting metal pots, padlocks, and any other metallic objects available.
Kamilu called on the state government to take urgent action to address this escalating issue, emphasizing the need to prevent young children from engaging in theft at such a tender age. He also urged scrap dealers to conduct their business responsibly by refusing to purchase items from children or individuals with dubious backgrounds, particularly at night.
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Another resident, Muhammad Abdullahi, echoed Kamilu’s concerns, noting that scavengers frequently vandalize signposts and other public property in their search for valuable materials. He urged the state government to expedite measures to combat this growing menace.
Kabir Umar, a third resident, stressed the need for the government to implement effective solutions to eradicate the problem, which he described as a serious concern for households and the community at large.
Umar proposed that the government intensify efforts to provide vocational skills training for youths, enabling them to become self-employed and self-reliant.
In Nigeria, iron condemn is used to describe metal material that is no longer useful and therefore sold as scrap. Normally, these may include worn out parts from cars and other machines.
