The growing presence of scavengers, locally known as Baba Boola, across Abuja and its suburbs including Mararaba, Nyanya, Karu, Lugbe, and Kubwa has sparked alarm among residents, who link their activities to increasing crime rates.
Locals say the scavengers, who roam neighborhoods in search of recyclable waste like plastics and scrap metals, often operate at odd hours and have been implicated in burglary, assault, and vandalism. Many fear their continued presence threatens public safety and environmental hygiene.
Calls for intervention have intensified, with residents urging the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to regulate scavenging activities and strengthen the city’s waste disposal system. “We now sleep with one eye open,” said Ngozi Ezike, a teacher in Mararaba, describing recent burglary incidents allegedly linked to scavengers.
In response to rising complaints, the FCTA has been cracking down on unregulated scavenging and street begging, citing the 2020 domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law. However, this has triggered a legal backlash.
A lawsuit filed by human rights lawyer Abba Hikima on behalf of scavengers and beggars accuses the FCTA and the Inspector General of Police of violating the rights of vulnerable residents. The plaintiffs are seeking ₦500 million in damages, claiming forced evictions and harassment.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, in a counter-affidavit, defended the administration’s actions, arguing that many scavengers engage in illegal activities such as vandalism, theft, and espionage for criminal networks. He also cited health hazards linked to open defecation and waste dumping by homeless individuals living under bridges and on roadsides.
While the legal case continues in the Federal High Court, with a judgment expected on July 10, the situation has sparked broader debate over public safety, poverty, and urban management.
Some residents suggest alternatives. Mike Divine, a resident of Lugbe, called for the relocation of scavengers to skills acquisition centres and better enforcement of sanitation laws. “The city’s waste management must be revamped to reduce their access to trash and curb associated crimes,” he said.
Despite the allegations, some scavengers insist they are unfairly stigmatized. Ibrahim Dantata, a father of nine, explained he turned to scavenging out of desperation. “Not all of us are criminals,” he said. “This work is how I feed my family.”
Kabiru M’uazu, another scavenger in Nyanya, said the community has internal mechanisms to punish theft. “We don’t tolerate stealing,” he said. “Anyone caught faces serious consequences.”
As tension builds between the need for public order and the rights of the economically marginalized, residents and officials alike agree that a long-term solution must involve improved urban planning, stronger social support systems, and effective law enforcement.
