Missing Children: Council Chairman Bans Iron Scavengers In Agbarho

In a measure geared towards ending disappearance of children in Agbarho Community, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, Chairman, Ughelli North Local Government Area has banned the activities of iron scavengers in Agbarho Kingdom, and set up an investigative committee to carry out a proper investigation into the matter.

Egbo gave the order during an enlarged security meeting in his office with the leadership of Agbarho women, representatives from Agbarho communities, Agbarho Royal Palace, Agbarho Descendants Union, and with all security agencies in the local government including, the Ughelli Police Area Commander, DPOs of all the divisions in the local Government, the Nigeria Army, DSS, Customs, NSCDC, immigration, and local vigilante groups amongst others.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the meeting, Egbo disclosed that the purpose of the meeting was to hear directly from the people on the alleged missing children in Agbarho communities.

He launched an investigative team, headed by ACP Adebayo, Area Commander of Ughelli Area, to find a lasting solution to the problem and to avert future recurrence.

“As against the report circulating in the media that 26 children are missing in Agbarho Kingdom, for now, we have been able to confirmed seven of them, though it’s a sad one to us but we will ensure we do our best to go in search of them, and to put a measure in place to avert future reoccurrence.

“I have charged the security agencies to conduct proper investigation to unearth those seven children that are missing, we have taken their photograph, names of the children and that of their parents.

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“We have also promised to support one of the mothers who is still in school to go back and study, and to also give two other affected mothers palliative for them to start up a business of their own for them to take care of themselves and their children, while the government and the security agencies hit the ground running in search of the children.” Egbo added.

The Chairman reiterated his commitment to ensuring peace and security across the local government.

He stressed that the government was unaware of the happening since the first case of child abduction took place in December 2024, as reported by one of the affected mothers during the meeting.

Following the report of the alleged suspected scavenger who was caught in the process of kidnapping a child in Agbarho Kingdom, the Chairman, banned the activities of scavengers popularly known as “Iron Condemned.”

Egbo stated that until they are properly profiled in Agbarho Kingdom any scavenger caught in Agbarho conducting their activities will be arrested by security agencies to face the full weight of the law.

He called on parents, caregivers, and the general public to be vigilant at all times and to always report unsuspected faces and cases of criminal activities in their area to the security agencies.

The Chairman urged all parents to advise their children to shun the push to get-rich-quick syndrome, which has led so many youths into committing blood rituals, yahoo yahoo (Advance fee fraud 419), kidnapping, Armed robbery, and other social vices.

Highlights of the meeting were the setting up of an investigative committee, to carry out a proper investigation to ascertain the number of missing kids and report a crime scene to the security agencies and the government for prompt action.

The meeting serves as one of the measures put in place by the Olorogun Jaro Egbo-led administration in combating security challenges in the area to avoid any future reoccurrence.