The Zamfara government claims scrap traders stole cables worth N3 billion earmarked for a power project

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, says cables purchased by the state government worth N3 billion were stolen by metal scavengers.

The stolen cables were used for electricity distribution lines connecting Damaturu, Yobe State, to Maiduguri.

This was disclosed by Senior Technical Assistant Print and Digital Communications, Abdulrahman Bundi, who said that the incident, along with other security concerns, informed the state government’s decision to ban trade in scrap metal in the state.

Bundi, in his statement on Sunday, said Zulum revealed this during a speech to business players in Maiduguri, Saturday.

Zulum explained that the ban was initially imposed in the interests of the country as a whole and was not intended to deprive operators of their livelihoods.

He stressed that the government has no vested interest in stopping their business, adding that the measure aims to protect public assets and strengthen security.

According to him, “Before the ban, hundreds of your members were killed in the process of metal scavenging in villages that were not yet safe for civil activities.

“It is deeply concerning to me that anyone would lose their livelihood for any reason in Borno; believe me, there is nothing I can gain by banning the scrap metal trade other than addressing the serious security concerns associated with your activities.”

“We spent over N3 billion to connect the electricity distribution line from Damaturu to Maiduguri, but unfortunately we lost all the cables due to metal scavenging activities,” recalled Zulum.

The governor further said that security agencies have intelligence indicating that terrorists are collaborating with scavengers to sell looted metal.

“We have security intelligence that even insurgents are using your platform to sell looted metal. So, no responsible government would ignore that intelligence just for politically correct reasons,” he said.

Bundi said the governor had granted waivers allowing operators to evacuate stock accumulated before the ban in certain locations, a move intended to reduce the impact of the restrictions on legitimate businesses.

“He urged them to submit proposals on how they can continue their business without contributing to insecurity or damaging public infrastructure,” Bundi said.