The Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, of Delta State, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, has raised the alarm over the growing boldness of criminal scavengers in the area, revealing that a group of them recently stole a pumping machine from a police station in Ughelli.
Egbo, who spoke on the security situation in the local government, described the act as a shocking indicator of the security challenges facing the council. “Imagine, they even went to the police station and stole their pumping machine. It was only then the police took the matter seriously and arrested the culprit,” he said.
The Chairman expressed frustration over the menace of scavengers, known locally as iron condemn, noting that despite a statewide ban, enforcement has been difficult due to political interference and vested interests. “These people have destroyed Ogor Market, vandalized health centers, and even attempted to abduct a schoolchild by stuffing the child into a sack,” he said.
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Egbo likened his experience in the past ten months as council chairman to a microcosm of Nigeria’s broader governance issues, where the right course of action is often hindered by unseen hands. “You know what should be done, but there are people blocking you. There are individuals benefiting from the chaos these scavengers bring,” he lamented.
While the council had plans to relocate the scavengers to Ododego—where land was allocated for their operations—Egbo said pressure from powerful individuals derailed the effort.
In spite of the challenges, the Chairman highlighted significant security improvements in Ughelli North. He disclosed that 32 criminals have been neutralized in the last ten months and proudly noted that there have been no recorded cases of robbery or kidnapping in the past four months. He credited the success to the efforts of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Commissioner of Police CP Abaniwonda, and the Director-General of Security.
