Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on authorities to take urgent action over the increasing activities of scavengers, popularly known as Baban bola, who they say are creating security concerns in several Abuja suburbs.
Residents told Daily Post that scavengers frequently move around neighbourhoods, sometimes at odd hours, and that some individuals allegedly use scavenging as a cover for burglary, theft, vandalism, harassment and other criminal activities. However, these allegations do not apply to all scavengers, and some scavengers interviewed said they depend on the work to support their families.
The areas reportedly experiencing a noticeable increase in scavenger activity include Nyanya, Karu, Jikwoyi, Mararaba and Masaka.
A resident identified as Mama Amina alleged that burglars broke into her neighbour’s house in Mararaba and stole valuables. She claimed that residents had reported the incident but remained concerned that the problem had not been permanently addressed.
Another resident, Ifeanyi Ike, linked the situation partly to weaknesses in domestic waste management. He argued that the absence of an organised waste-collection system encourages more people to move around neighbourhoods searching through discarded materials.
Security expert Ndu Nwokolo, Managing Partner at Nextier, said scavenging activities in Abuja had exposed residents to risks including pilfering, burglary, illegal surveillance, knife attacks and hooliganism. He urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to enforce regulations against indiscriminate waste disposal and unauthorised scavenging.
Nwokolo also recommended that authorities provide alternative livelihoods and skills-acquisition opportunities for young people involved in scavenging while improving waste-management systems across the capital.
Some scavengers, however, rejected the perception that they are criminals. One scavenger, Ibrahim Dantata, said he entered the trade because he had no formal education or other employment opportunity. He stressed that not every scavenger is involved in crime.
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