ABUJA — Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed growing concern over the rising activities of scavengers, popularly known as “Baban bola,” who reportedly prowl neighbourhoods at odd hours, posing significant security risks and contributing to rising crime rates.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that residents across the FCT and its suburbs, including Nyanya, Karu, Jikwoyi, Mararaba, and Masaka, have called on authorities to intensify enforcement, regulate scavenging activities, and provide a more organised system for domestic waste disposal . Some residents allege that while many scavengers genuinely depend on the trade for survival, others use it as a cover to monitor homes, steal valuables, vandalise public infrastructure, and engage in other criminal activities.
One resident, Mama Amina, told Daily Post that two major burglary incidents in Mararaba were reportedly carried out by individuals operating under the guise of scavenging . “You see these Baban bola; they are professional criminals. Forget about their pitiable look. At night, they broke into my neighbour’s house and went away with expensive valuables,” she said.
CDA News Nigeria reports that security experts have also linked the scavenger menace to broader insecurity. Mr Ndu Nwokolo, a security expert and Managing Partner at Nextier, warned that the activities of scavengers have exposed residents to pilfering, burglary, illegal surveillance, knife attacks, and hooliganism . He advised the FCT Administration to enforce the ban on indiscriminate refuse disposal and scavenging, and to move young people to skills acquisition centres or other sources of livelihood.
The FCT Administration has previously enforced bans on scavenging within the city centre, restricting them to designated dump sites . However, residents argue that the lack of an effective domestic waste collection system is empowering criminals who disguise themselves as scavengers . The authorities have also expressed concern over the use of beggars and destitutes as couriers for illicit drugs and informants for criminal gangs .
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