By Princely Onyenwe, Abuja

The Abia State Government has observed with dismay, the activities of criminal elements who are engaged in the nefarious act of vandalizing street light poles and iron rods used for drainage works in Aba and selling them as scrap. It has been observed that this act is being perpetrated by metal scrap dealers (akpakara) with the help of cart pushers.

In a release signed by Chief Okey Ahiwe, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Abia State, which was made available to 9News Nigeria has it that Abia state government

considers this action as economic sabotage and will not sit back and watch criminal elements sabotage public infrastructure in the State.

To this end, the Governor directs security agencies in Abia State to strengthen the security of public infrastructure in the State and fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crimes and bring them to book.

The Governor in the same vein, directs the Hon. Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu , to immediately take steps to set up a task force to ensure that business of scrap dealing in Abia State is sanitized.