The Abia State government has expressed concern over rising cases of theft involving government and private property, allegedly perpetrated by scrap collectors and other criminals who sell stolen items to scrap dealers at extremely low prices.

The stolen property includes electrical cables, transformer components, railway materials, manhole covers, iron sheets, streetlights, and household iron items, causing financial losses and security concerns for the owners.

Speaking in Umuahia during a meeting with scrap dealers and scavengers, Abia State Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna, described the theft as sabotage and warned that the government would not allow it to continue. He emphasized that the meeting aimed to develop lawful and organized frameworks for scrap operations without obstructing legitimate businesses.

To curb illegal activities, Ogbonna directed scrap dealers and scavengers to:

• Obtain the Abia State Social Security Identification Number.
• Register their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
• Operate under one government-recognized union to ensure accountability.

Representatives of the scrap dealers, Mr. Uwakwe Oke and Ukachi Emenike, pledged their support for the government’s reforms and assured that they would not harbor thieves. They also appealed to the government to investigate cases of extortion targeting their members.

Ogbonna reiterated that the state’s policy seeks to sanitize the sector, promote lawful operations, and enhance security for both residents and businesses.