TheHILL | METRO | January 19.
Two weeks after the Akwa Ibom State government placed a ban on the activities of scrap scavengers in all her 31 Local Government Areas, a Magistrate Court sitting in Uyo, on Tuesday, sent no fewer than twenty (20) offenders to the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service, TheHILL can authoritatively report.
The culprits were apprehended at different parts of the State by a Joint Task Force recently inaugurated by Government to ensure compliance on the ban of scavengers, open grazing and motorcycles use in Uyo metropolis.
They were charged for having committed offenses punishable by sections 6 (1) and (8) of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law 2009.
The court however, passed that the culprits be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Uyo pending further advise or possible prosecution from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Recall, Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, had on January 4, announced the ban on scrap scavengers in the state following the death of three persons as a result of the clash between youths and the scavengers.
Speaking on behalf of the State Chief Executive, Ekuwem said as a responsible Government, they can no longer tolerate the activities of the people which evidently is in no way adding value to the socio economic well being of the State but rather escalating tensions and threatening the overall peace and security of the State.
Government had cited several incidents of grave infractions including acts of criminality and threat to peaceful inter-ethnic relationship in the State by operators of the enterprise as some of the reasons for the ban.
Ekuwem, stressed that action of Government was also in consonance with public sentiments amidst popular complaints against the activities of most scavengers who wantonly violate peoples properties, stealing and assaulting law abiding citizens in the process.
The SSG pointed out that Sundays appear to be the busiest day for the scavengers who take advantage of mass Church attendance to invade homes and cart away valuables, leaving hapless citizens with tales of woe upon their return from Church.
