Residents of Irewole, Orisunbare, and Itesiwaju communities in Owode-Ede, Osun State, have expressed concern over the increasing number of scavengers, known as ‘Boola’ in the area.
The residents said the scavengers have been found loitering around the neighbourhoods at odd hours.
According to the residents, some of the scavengers often take advantage of their absence in the area during the day to cart away their valuables.
They appealed to relevant government agencies to find a way to curb the excesses of some of the scavengers.
It was gathered that a scavenger was caught stealing a pumping machine inside a house at Irewole community penultimate Monday.
In a video obtained by The Point, the scavenger had removed the pumping machine from the well and was about to leave the compound when an occupant saw him.
The scavenger whose face was not shown in the video was heard saying he thought the pumping machine was not working again.
The house owner, Mrs. Olaide Morounfolu, said she caught the scavenger when he was about to pack the pumping machine after removing it.
According to her, “I was at home sleeping and didn’t know something was going on in my backyard. I only went out to turn on the pumping machine when they brought electricity.
“On getting out, I saw the pumping machine on the ground with the scavenger attempting to pack it. I raised the alarm and some people came in.”
A resident of Orisunbare community who gave his name as Smith, said activities of the scavengers needed to be checked.
According to Smith, despite warnings by most of the communities in Owode-Ede, the scavengers kept loitering around, noting that they had stolen from many houses and shops.
The shoemaker said his shop had once been burgled by the scavengers, warning that anyone caught again in the area might be severely dealt with.
“That was how the scavengers stole from my shop some time ago. We have warned them not to come to our area again but they kept on coming. The authorities have to do something about it. There is a need to separate the bad eggs from the good ones,” he stated.
