Okriika councillors declare scrap pickers criminals, call for their arrest

Brave Dickson

The councillors of Okrika Local Government Legislative Assembly has declared scrap pickers criminals, calling on security agents to arrest them.

The councillors also accused the scrap pickers of turning the indigenes of the area into their criminal merchants who steal metals and plastics to sell them.

At a plenary monitored by our correspondent, the councillors frowned the rate at which valuable metals and plastics were missing within the neighbourhood of the LGA.

Moving a motion of urgent importance, Royal Ateke said, “the rising stealing of irons and plastics is alarming.

“The operation of scrap pickers in our LGA is causing serious problem, our properties are no longer safe and the future of our youths is eroding.

“Some of our youths have engaged in the illegal business of stealing useful metals and sell them to scrap pickers.”

He further stated that the council authority cannot allow the scrap pickers to continue their illegal business at the detriment of the LGA.

Supporting the motion, the Chief Whip, Joshua Tomquin maintained that the criminality of scrap business in the LGA had posed a great danger to Okrikans, urging his colleagues to partner security agents to stop scrap picking business in the area.