Scavengers are everywhere throughout the country. They are seen in every street in our cities, villages and communities looking for pieces of irons, condemned plastics, waste papers, cartons, foams and cans and such other items that could be recycled
Before now, people see them as poor honest citizens trying to survive or look after their families. Some others describe them as jobless hungry and dirty youths who could hardly fend for themselves left alone taking care of their families.
People pitied them and blamed the economic situation of the country brought about by the insensitive ruling class who refuse to create employment opportunities for our ever increasing youths.
Now, it is any one’s guess that it is a work where people make a fortune though dirty but demanding energy, endurance and time for one to make it. It is a gold-mine and many energetic young men have joined the business.
For one thing, it has provided employment opportunities for a good number of youths. At least they are self employed.
Though they toiled throughout the day are rewarded for their labour as they market such products to the wholesalers who in turn supply the goods for recycling. To this extent we commend them for at least they have employed themselves and are able to provide for their families.
Again, another area of commendation is that they try to remove such weapons that are dangerous to the citizenry, from our streets, roads and public places.
Today, it is disheartening to notice that there are bad elements amongst these scavengers who want to break even by all means. They have added criminality to their work because they don’t want to suffer any longer.
On going the streets and roads in Port Harcourt, one sees that pillars of uncompleted (or abandoned) buildings and fences are dug out and removed; The iron slabs covering the mouths of deep gutters especially in Diobu are made away with. Examples abound.
Directly opposite the second gate of the Ecumenical Centre located along Abonnema Wharf Road the Iron slab covering of the underground gutter had been pulled out and taken, there by endangering the lives of the road users, especially the Centenary Model School children that is located very adjacent.
Also the back fence of the school has its pillars excavated and iron rods taken away, for God knows who. Equally the front fence has the irons cut and stolen by these scavengers.
The one that touches the heart is that directly at the school gate of St. Andrews Model School, Ikwerre Road is another eye sour where the steel iron slab covering the underground gutter was pulled out and taken by these people. The lives of the thousands of the school children are in danger because any child that mistakenly falls inside the deep gutter will never come out alive or in a situation where it rains, the corpse of any person that falls inside the gutter may be deposited in the ocean.
By Afikpo Market near the mosque is another iron slab pulled and taken, examples are many to recount.
Last time a driver met one of such place suddenly and on swerving he nearly ran under a truck.
The danger signals are there and cannot be ignored by the Government. The police should be aware of this and start searching this boys. After al where is the iron slab near the Mile 1 Police Station? Did it enter inside the gutter? We all should know that the pulling out of the gutter iron slabs is a crime of the highest order and the police should be awakened by the danger signals poised by the boys who disguise as humble scavengers in the day but armed robbers during the night.
Again, the live of every resident in the affected areas in Port Harcourt is in danger because by mistake an adult falls inside the gutter, there it ends. As vehicle may meet the tunnel suddenly and the next thing is an unavoidable accident that may result to the death of innocent people. Or is it not an offence to remove the iron slabs? So asks a bus driver who refuse to give his name.
According to the driver we interviewed, these boys should have conscience to realize that even their loved ones or family members could be victims.
The truth is that these boys are doing all these with impunity; neither the police nor the residents could utter a word against such vandalism and such a criminal act.
Many times do the scavengers carry new iron rods, gates, chairs, rug carpets, and other valuables and no one question them or takes them to the place they got such items. The danger could be more pronounced in this coming raining season where erosion may flood such tunnels.
Finally, the police and the government should take note.
