“WE LOST ALL THE WIRES, INSURGENTS USING SCRAP METAL DEALERS TO SELL LOOTED METALS ” — ZULUM

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has said metal scavengers looted all the wires purchased for a ₦3 billion electricity distribution line linking Damaturu, Yobe State, to Maiduguri.

The power line wire theft revelation was made while Zulum was addressing scrap metal operators in Maiduguri on Saturday, where he explained that the incident, alongside security concerns, informed the state government’s decision to ban the scrap metal trade.

THE LOSS

“We spent more than ₦3 billion to connect an electricity distribution line from Damaturu to Maiduguri, but unfortunately, we lost all the wires to metal scavenging activities,” Zulum said.

The governor said the ban was initially imposed in the overall interest of the state and was not intended to deprive operators of their livelihoods.

He stressed that the government had no personal interest in stopping their businesses, adding that the measure was aimed at protecting public assets and strengthening security.

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THE SECURITY CONCERNS

Zulum said security agencies had intelligence indicating that terrorists collaborated with scavengers to sell looted metals.

“We have security intelligence that even the insurgents use your platforms to sell looted metals. So, no responsible government will ignore such intelligence just to be politically correct,” he said.

He also said hundreds of scavengers had been killed while searching for metals in villages that were not yet safe for civilian activities.

“Before the ban, hundreds of your members were killed in the process of scavenging for metals in the villages that are not yet safe for civilian activities,” he said .

THE WAIVER

Despite the ban, Zulum granted a waiver allowing operators to evacuate stocks accumulated before the ban at selected locations, a move intended to ease the impact of the restriction on legitimate businesses.

He urged them to submit proposals on how they can continue their businesses without contributing to insecurity or destroying public infrastructure.

WHY IT MATTERS

The theft of an entire power line is not petty crime. It is the destruction of public infrastructure worth billions of naira, and it has real consequences for the people of Borno State who need electricity.

The allegation that insurgents are using scrap metal dealers to sell looted metals adds a security dimension that cannot be ignored. If Boko Haram and ISWAP are profiting from the scrap metal trade, then the trade is not merely an economic activity. It is a source of funding for terrorism.

Zulum’s decision to ban the trade is controversial, but it is rooted in a genuine crisis. The challenge is to ensure that legitimate operators are not unfairly punished while the criminal elements are dealt with.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the ban remains in place. The operators have been asked to submit proposals for alternative arrangements.