The scavengers, otherwise known as ‘ Baban Bolas ‘ are dreaded group of people who go about picking waste and refuse from dust bins and dump sites. They can easily be identified by their tattered looks as they move around business premises, offices, markets and backyards of compounds.

When a scavenger is not pushing a cart filled with various waste items, he is clutching big, dirty bag with which he collects waste. They are very daring and operate everywhere, even in the wee hours of the night.

Many residents of Abuja see them as a necessary evil and patronise them for the disposal of household refuse. They have been accused of helping themselves with useful household items instead of collecting wastes whenever people are not vigilant.

Ban

Following thus negative impressions, the Federal Capital Territory had place a ban on their activities. In the wake of that ban, the FCTA had indicated that the scavengers would no longer be allowed to operate in the city but should restrict their activities to only approved dump sites located in the suburbs and satellite towns.

It was learnt that the resolution was part of measures to combat acts of criminality such as armed robbery, kidnappings, vandalism and other misdemeanors in the Territory. The official announcement read as follows:

“In furtherance of the commitment of the Administration to protect and secure lives and property of all residents of the Territory and in accordance with section 35 sub-section 1(i) of the AEPB Act of 1997, which prohibits the collection and disposal of refuse without authorization, the FCT Administration hereby bans scavengers a.k.a Baban Bola from collecting, disposing of refuse, trespassing on refuse bins or similar activities in any part of the Federal Capital City.

“Their activities are henceforth restricted to government designated dump sites outside the city. As a result, reports reaching the Administration indicate that residents in many parts of the Capital City have lost many of their valuables to these scavengers.

The ban was said to have been necessitated by the out cries from various residents to the effect that they have lost many of their valuables to these scavengers operating around their hones and business places.

It was also said that , many public utilities such as man holes, electricity cables, telecom wires and generators have been vandalised and stolen by these scavengers.

It was learnt that, ” under the guise of scavenging from refuse bins in neighborhoods across the city, the Baban Bollas have been involved in many criminal activities from petty stealing to armed robbery, vandalism of public utilities and other forms of criminality.

The FCTA said that “to put an end to this ugly trend therefore, the Baba Bollas are to operate only at the Gousa, Karshi, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Abaji and Kuje approved dumpsites as opposed to moving from one neighbourhood to another collecting waste objects across the city of Abuja”.

Poor enforcement

However, the ban has been observed more in the breach and the scavengers appear to have been operating above the law. Many residents have continued to cry out over the menace of these scavengers, saying that while the ban was pronounced, the enforcement of the law has remained weak and very inconsistent.

They have accused the relevant authorities of looking away while the scavengers continue to unleash their crude behavior on lawful residents. The claims that there had been no enforcement of the ban was however debunked by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board ( AEPB).

A senior officer of AEPB who pleaded anonymity because he has not been authorised to comment, on the matter, admitted that enforcement of the ban has been challenging.

He said that AEPB officers have been arresting and prosecuting scavengers who violate the rules and restrictions. He however, disclosed that the insecurity in some parts of the Northern Region was responsible for the continued influx of scavengers into the FCT.

He lamented that while you are clearing one area of scavengers, others are invading other places. The officer also disclosed that the government has not given the enforcement a priority attention, and that may explain the difficulties being experienced by the enforcement team.

He however, insisted that the operation of these people outside the approved dump sites, remains an offense.

Neighbourhood voices

The lawlessness associated with the operations of the scavengers is as nauseating as their daring attitude shocking. Their modus operandi has also been described as a disguised crime, by many residents.

Just recently, a middle aged woman, Madam Eunice Jonathan, had a bitter experience in the hands of these scavenger. According to her, “these Baban Bollas are more dangerous than bandits”.

Madam Jonathan who lives in one of the communities located in Guzape extension, said that scavengers are dreaded in her area, because they operate without fear or respect for other members of the community.

She noted even the local vigilance groups appear to have given up on them. According to her, she had lost aluminum pots, charcoal stove and many other valuables to scavengers.

“The worst thing about these Baban Bollas is that they are always ready to challenge you, when you confront them while attempting to pick what does not belong to them. “I remember the day one of them was caught squeezing my neighbor’s cooking pot.

When he was challenged, he was so daring, but was subdued by the presence of some youths who were attracted to the scene”.

Another resident of Kobi, a community in Guzape district, Kenneth Chukwuka disclosed how some scavengers were caught excavating iron rods from a sewage pit in their neighborhood.

Chukwuka narrated how these two scavengers invaded their neighborhood in broad daylight and started excavating the iron rods. He said: “ These Baban Bollas are terrible.

One day, about two of them came to our street, entered the backyard of my next-door neighbour and started removing the rods from their sewage pit.

“We had to quickly call the attention of the vigilance group, who arrested them and later forced them to repair the pit they had damaged. So, I believe that these people are dangerous and should be banned by the government”.

Request for action

Some residents have called on the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike to effectively enforce the ban of these people, noting that they have become a menace on the society.

The residents said that if the Minister ignores the call to totally enforce the ban on scavengers, his efforts at tackling insecurity may constantly be jeopardised.

They said that for years, different agencies in the FCT have continued to pronounce a ban on the activities of these waste pickers , without a consistent plan of action for enforcement.

Josiah Azubuike, a resident of Kobi, a village in Guzape district of FCT, said that it was worrisome that the ban on scavengers, especially at restricted areas, has not been enforced.

He noted that FCT authorities had restricted the scavengers to designated dump sites, but they have refused to comply. Azubuike said that with the current situation of insecurity, relevant agencies should wake up to their responsibility.

According to him, some bandits and their informants often disguise themselves as scavengers to enable them to navigate through all the nooks and crannies of the city.

He alleged that some of the people seen carrying stinking sacks, picking trash in the streets, were actually criminals or their informants. A security analyst, Balarabe Usman said, “it is senseless to pronounce a ban on scavengers without enforcement.

“With this current precarious situation of insecurity in Abuja, these scavengers who walk about looking piteous, are actually criminal elements.

Solace

How can the people restricted to only dump sites be allowed to be entering protected premises?

“I have seen these people move about freely in places like Asokoro, Maiatama and other highbrow areas, yet no one takes any action against them? “.

Inside Abuja gathered that the trend was becoming more troubling because it is a common unpleasant sight on Abuja’s major streets, seeing tattered looking teenagers and adults dragging an overloaded hand-pulled cart.

Residents are not just helpless about the situation, but consider the lawless attitude of the scavenger a torment on a peaceful society. The Baban Bollas may see themselves as poor, innocent citizens seeking their daily bread, but their conduct, obviously constitutes social and environmental nuisance, too resentful for comfort.

Their trade has no respect for laws, boundaries and other people, thereby making them repulsive to the society. They are not only searching for discarded items, but can steal household important items.

Sometimes, even ready to attack owners of the items. At the City Centre, residents see them they are unwanted visitors that disregard warnings just to spy on the people.

Even in the highbrow residential areas o like Asokoro, Maitama, Gwarimpa and Guzape, you will find them dragging around their huge dirty sacks on the shoulders. Would the authorities ever rise to the occasion?