According to a report by Nigerian Tribune, on Thursday April 16, 2026, the Edo State Government has issued a 21-day ultimatum to some residents of a Hausa community living around the Lagos Street moat area in Benin City, ordering them to leave the area and find new accommodation.
This followed the arrest of six suspected scavengers accused of vandalising government infrastructure, the arrest was carried out after security reports linked them to repeated theft of public property in the state.
Officials of the Edo State Public Property Protection Committee said the action was taken to restore order and protect public assets in the state capital, they said those arrested are already in police custody and will be charged to court for prosecution.
Authorities stated that vandalism of schools and public facilities has become a growing concern in Benin City, the committee alleged that items such as chairs and roofing materials were removed from public schools and sold illegally.
They warned that such acts would no longer be tolerated and offenders would face legal consequences, residents of the affected moat area were given three weeks to relocate peacefully.
The government also urged scrap dealers to regulate their members and prevent involvement in theft, the Scrap Dealers Association in Edo State said it had introduced strict working hours and banned Sunday operations to reduce illegal activities and added that members who break the rules are not recognized by the association.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining law and order while assuring that all law-abiding residents remain welcome, it said it has been increasing surveillance around public infrastructure to stop repeated cases of vandalism and theft across major areas of the capital.
Security agencies were directed to continue monitoring scrap activities and report any illegal operations to the authorities, qeeks of inspection have been carried out in schools and public facilities to assess the level of damage caused by vandals…..See More
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