Residents of Abuja and its surrounding suburbs are raising alarm over the increasing presence of scavengers, commonly known as Baba Boola, in areas such as Mararaba, Nyanya, Karu, Lugbe, and Kubwa. The proliferation of these individuals, who scour neighborhoods for recyclable materials, is now being linked to a rise in criminal activities, including burglary and vandalism.
Community members have voiced growing fears that the scavengers, often seen loitering at odd hours, pose serious security threats. They are appealing to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to intensify enforcement efforts, regulate scavenging activities, and provide alternative waste disposal systems.
“Our lives are no longer safe,” said Ngozi Ezike, a teacher in Mararaba. “Abuja, especially this Mararaba axis, is becoming something else. Two burglaries linked to scavengers happened recently, yet nothing has been done to end this menace.”
Mariam Musa, a resident of Nyanya, attributed the situation to poor waste management. “As long as there’s no proper way to dispose of refuse, these scavengers will multiply. The evil they’re capable of is limitless,” she said.
In Karu, Deji Ayo lamented the area’s deteriorating security. “Karu used to be peaceful, but now it’s a hotspot for insecurity,” he said.
Mike Divine from Lugbe described how residents have been exposed to “pilfering, burglary, illegal surveillance, knife attacks, and hooliganism” allegedly perpetrated by some scavengers. He urged the FCTA to enforce a ban on illegal scavenging and invest in skills acquisition programs for unemployed youth.
Meanwhile, a legal case is underway at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where scavengers and beggars are suing FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the Inspector-General of Police for N500 million over alleged rights violations. Filed by lawyer Abba Hikima, the suit argues that homelessness and petty trading are not crimes and that the government’s clampdown infringes on the rights of vulnerable citizens.
In a counter-affidavit, Minister Wike defended the government’s actions, citing the security and environmental risks posed by the scavengers. “Many of the purported scavengers have been arrested for vandalism and are believed to serve as spies for kidnappers and criminals,” he stated, also pointing to issues of open defecation and public nuisance.
Despite the growing concerns, some scavengers insist they are simply trying to survive. Ibrahim Dantata, who operates in the FCT, said, “I have no education or skill. This is the only way I can feed my four wives and nine children in Zamfara. Not all of us are bad.”
Kabiru M’uazu, another scavenger in Nyanya, acknowledged the presence of bad eggs in their ranks but said his group enforces its own internal discipline. “Anyone caught stealing is punished. We don’t tolerate theft,” he said.
The court is expected to deliver a ruling on the case on July 10. In the meantime, the growing tension between residents and scavengers continues to highlight the challenge of balancing urban development, public safety, and the rights of marginalized communities in Nigeria’s capital.
