By Sam Kayode
The Governor Babagana Zulum led Borno State Government has banned the scavenging of scrap metals across the state until further notice.
The banning was informed by increased stealing of government vehicles which the car thieves dry to scrap yards and sell to these merchants who put them asunder and ship in huge trailers to states with smelting facilities.
Zulum made the announcement following discovery of a large number of metal scraps believed to be dismembered parts of government’s property which he inspected.
Governor Zulum who was on tour of projects within the metropolis came across large quantities of the scraps, usually called “Ajaokuta” a substantial number of them believed to be property belonging to Federal and Borno State Government.
The Governor noted that in the last few years, hundreds of people were killed in the state as a result of scavenging of scrap cars and all manner of metals generated as spoils of war.
“People go to extreme in the business with some allegedly steal public property that include street lights poles and tanks belonging to telecommunications companies amongst others”.
The Governor added that some vehicles in the council areas are allegedly destroyed by those interested in the Scavenging business, stressing that government cannot allow these nefarious activities to continue.
He then announced the banning of scavenging activities in the twenty seven council areas in the state until further notice.
He vowed to enforce the ban through an “executive order” to that effect to bring sanity to business activities and safeguard lives of the scavengers themselves.
