The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has arrested 36 scavengers over alleged possession of illicit drugs and weapons in Abuja.

The FCT NSCDC Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, made this known on Friday in Abuja, saying the suspects were caught in various areas of the FCT.

DAILY POST recalls that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had banned activities of scavengers in the FCT and suspended for two weeks operations of pan-takers across the city.

Odumosu said that items allegedly recovered from the suspects included four daggers, three Jack knives, two chisels and three knives.

Others are narcotic drugs, ten bottles of codeine syrup, 45 wraps of cannabis sativa, thrash bags and pieces of iron rods.

“The suspects are currently being investigated and profiled and I will ensure that due diligence is followed in their prosecution,” Odumosu assured.

The corps commandant advised FCT residents to dispose of refuse through the appropriate waste management companies and stop patronising scavengers, popularly called “Baba Nbola” for the sake of safety.

He said that their detention was necessitated to nip vandalism and theft of public infrastructure such as manhole covers, streetlights, solar panels, armoured cables and other assets in the bud.

According to him, the suspects roam the streets of the FCT, perpetrating all forms of criminal activities under the guise of scavenging.

“Most of these scavengers are dangerous elements that must be flushed out of the FCT, if we want crime to abate.

“The public should note that, although they appear innocent, harmless and vulnerable, most of them are extremely dangerous, their activities are criminal in nature and they constitute threats to the nation.

“They go about the nooks and crannies of the city scavenging for plastics, scrap metals and irons, but from previous arrests, interrogations and investigations we realised that their real business is to vandalise infrastructure.

“This has resulted in the untimely death and maiming of many innocent Nigerians,” he said.

The commandant further said that investigations also revealed that these scavengers serve as informants to criminals.

Odumosu urged residents to join hands with the corps and other security agencies to flush out these dangerous elements in the FCT.

FCT: NSCDC arrests 36 scavengers with illicit drugs, weapons