The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has apprehended 98 scavengers, who are known as ‘Baban Bola.
The police paraded the suspects accused of theft on Monday.
They further stated that the accused would be deported back to their Home State.
Ben Igwe, the Deputy Police Commissioner, claimed that some unusual people had been flocking to the nation’s capital, and that the command was working to get them out of Abuja.
“Abuja is not a place for everyone. We’ve told them to go to the location where they’re meant to be.
“We’re attempting to remove them from the FCT.” “We’re going to keep doing it and we’re not going to stop,” he stated.
The commissioner said many items that are not to be scavenged were recovered from them.
“We have asked them to relocate. Many people have been trooping into the FCT, and some of them are coming with evil intentions. Whenever you see them, let us know.
“We are taking them to court to make sure that justice is given. We have a serious issue now because of threats from so many places.”
A legal practitioner, Abduljalil Musa, reacted to the news by calling the intended deportation “illegal.”
He stated that every Nigerian has the right to live and move about as he pleases.
“The FCT Police Command’s planned action to deport 98 scavengers to their various states of origin will be unlawful and a basic violation of affected persons’ intrinsic right to free movement.”
“Every Nigerian, regardless of his or her position or status in life, is free to migrate across the country and live wherever he or she wishes.”
“This much has been well captured in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) particularly Chapter 4 Section 41 which provides thus “Right to freedom of movement. (1) Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom,” he said.
