Edo State Arrests Six for Vandalism, Issues Quit Notice

On Wednesday, the Edo State government arrested six suspects known for vandalizing public infrastructure, including a primary school in Benin City. Eugen Okolois, the chairman of the Edo State Public Property Protection Committee, announced a 21-day ultimatum for scavengers occupying a moat along Lago Street to vacate the area for security reasons.

Okolois emphasized that the state would no longer tolerate the vandalism of public assets and stated that the arrested individuals would face charges in court on Monday. He highlighted the damage caused by scavengers, including the removal and sale of roof sheets from Fabiyi Akpata Primary School.

Abba Garuba, chairman of the Scrap Dealer Association of Edo State, mentioned that measures would be implemented to regulate members' activities, including work hours from 7 AM to 7 PM on weekdays and a ban on operations on Sundays. The government is increasingly enforcing regulations to curb illegal scavenging, which has been targeting public infrastructure across Nigeria.