Edo govt gives Hausa community 21-day ultimatum to vacate Benin moat

The Edo State Government has issued a 21-day ultimatum to members of the Hausa community residing around the Lagos Street moat area in Benin City, directing them to vacate the location and secure alternative accommodation.

The directive followed the arrest of six suspected scavengers—popularly known as “iron condemn”—allegedly caught vandalising government-owned infrastructure in the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Benin City on Wednesday, Chairman of the Edo State Public Property Protection Committee, Eugene Okoloise, said the move was part of efforts to restore order in the state capital and protect public assets.

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Okoloise expressed concern over the activities of scavengers, believed to be working for scrap dealers, accusing them of causing widespread damage to critical infrastructure.

“The ones that we arrested are in the police station. They are going to be charged to court on Monday, and they will be made to face the music. We have about six of them arrested,” he said.

He stressed that the government would no longer tolerate vandalism under any guise.

“We cannot continue like this. We cannot say because we don’t want people to say they are being marginalised, we allow them to attack state infrastructure. We will not allow it,” he added.

Addressing the residents of the Lagos Street moat, Okoloise said the government had given them three weeks to relocate.

“We have given them 21 days to go and look for a house… You cannot be living inside the moat,” he said.

He also cited cases of vandalism in public schools, including Fabiyi Akpata Primary School, where he said chairs and roofing materials were allegedly stolen and sold.

“They’ve sold all the chairs, sold the roofing sheets,” he lamented.

Okoloise further warned scrap dealers to take responsibility for the actions of their members, urging them to contribute to repairing damaged facilities or risk losing the right to operate in the state.

Responding, Chairman of the Scrap Dealers Association in Edo State, Alhaji Abbas Garuba, said the association had introduced measures to regulate its members and curb illegal activities.

“We have given working hours to our members—7am to 7pm on weekdays and Saturdays. Anyone operating outside this time is not from us,” he said.

Garuba added that members had also been barred from operating on Sundays, noting that most theft incidents were recorded on that day.

The state government reiterated its commitment to maintaining law and order while assuring that law-abiding residents, regardless of origin, remain welcome in Edo.