The Local Government Chairman of Guma, Hon. Maurice Orwough, has placed an immediate ban on the activities of roaming iron scrap dealers, popularly known as “iron condemn”; hawkers, across the entire local government area, citing growing security threats.
Orwough, who also chairs the Benue State chapter of ALGON, made the announcement on Tuesday during a strategic security meeting with community leaders and residents of Abinse, a riverine settlement in the area.
He explained that intelligence reports have revealed that some individuals disguising as scrap collectors were allegedly carrying out surveillance for armed herders, leading to violent attacks on local communities.
“We’ve noticed the movement of suspicious people claiming to be iron condemn hawkers, but our intelligence points to something more dangerous, they’re scouting our areas for criminal purposes,”; Orwough said.
Abinse, a multi-ethnic settlement along the River Benue, has been identified as a major transit route for criminal elements due to its open waterways and porous borders. The chairman warned that the community must remain alert and proactive in confronting insecurity.
“Security is not the responsibility of government alone. We all must take ownership of our safety and protect our land from infiltration,”; he added.
Supporting the move, the Ter Guma, Chief Dennis Shemberga, advised residents not to accommodate strangers whose identities are unclear, stressing that attackers often pose as guests or traders before launching assaults.
Chief Christopher Akpaki, the District Head of Abinse, along with other traditional authorities present, expressed full support for the ban and pledged closer collaboration with local authorities and security agencies. They committed to monitoring movements within the riverine zones and reporting suspicious activity.
