By Ogbagah Matthias
UGHELLI – The executive chairman of Ughelli North local government area, Delta State, Hon. Jaro Egbo, Tuesday placed a ban on the operations of condemned iron scavengers and other scrap metals popularly called ‘‘Iron condemned” in the council area.
The Egbo said the activities of the scavengers are now tantamount to robbery.
The chief press secretary, CPS, to the council boss, Mr. Efe Ekete made this known in a statement he released on Tuesday evening.
He said the dealers cannot be allowed to continue their “evil act” of stealing private and public metal objects across the board in the council area.
“These fellows prowl the residential neighborhoods and commercial districts intermittently screaming “Iron condemned,” with their quaint accent, just to get public attention like the typical village town criers.”
“Their mission is ostensibly to buy condemned iron or disused metal objects from households, workshops/business premises, or anybody who can freely offer their stock-in-trade (scrap metals).
In the local parlance, they are called “Iron condemned.” But what used to be simple and hassle-free transactions with itinerant, seemingly harmless cart pushers have ended up becoming pests to society.
“The nuisance value of the ubiquitous ‘Iron condemned’ scavengers can no longer be tolerated for they now constitute a pain in the neck of society as their activities are adversely affecting the economy of the council area, the caused more harms than good, He noted.
“Effective from January 1, 2025, the activities of Scrap mental scavenging popularly Known as “Iron condemned” is hereby prohibited in Ughelli North, following the different reports from the public about the negative activities by the group.
“We have seen and read so many negative reports where properties such as “Individual’s generators and vehicle body parts are not spared, roofing materials, cables, household properties, etc., are being stolen by scavengers, this we cannot allow continuing.
“They have become so brazen in dismantling and wrecking public utilities that you begin to wonder if they have special licenses to do what they are doing because they dare where nobody with a conscience will risk.”
Responding in their separate speeches, the group admitted that truly there are some bad eggs in their midst who are out to spoil the business for other genuine people, though they are working hard to regulate the activities of their members, they pledged to cooperate with the directives of the council boss.
Earlier, Egbo gave the group a three-month ultimatum to relocate its members to the approved Hausa Market site given to them at Odedogho expressway by the president general of Ughelli Descendants Union (UDU), Chief Samuel Akpemegi, for their business.
