Agbarho, Delta State – In a strong move to protect children and stop mysterious disappearances in Agbarho Kingdom, the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, has officially banned the activities of iron scavengers, popularly known as “Iron Condemned”, in the community.
This decision was made during a big security meeting held in his office, where he met with community leaders, women groups, traditional representatives from the Agbarho Royal Palace, and security officials from the police, army, DSS, immigration, civil defence, customs, and local vigilante groups.
Why the Ban?
There have been rumors and growing fears about children going missing in Agbarho. Some people even claimed that 26 kids had disappeared, but during the meeting, Chairman Egbo clarified that 7 cases have been confirmed so far.
He stated:
“It’s a sad situation, and we are doing everything possible to bring those children back and prevent this from ever happening again.”
To tackle this, he launched a full investigation, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Adebayo, the Ughelli Area Commander. Their job is to find the missing kids, investigate all leads, and make sure the truth comes out.
Support for the Families
Beyond the investigation, the Chairman is also helping the families affected. Here’s what he promised:
- One mother who’s still in school will receive help to continue her education.
- Two other mothers will get financial support (palliatives) to help them start small businesses and care for their remaining children.
Iron Scavengers Under Watch
One of the biggest actions taken was the immediate ban on scavengers (Iron Condemned) operating in Agbarho. This came after reports that a scavenger was allegedly caught trying to kidnap a child.
Chairman Egbo made it clear that:
“No scavenger is allowed to operate in Agbarho unless they are properly registered and profiled. If caught, they will be arrested and face the law.”
Message to Parents and Youths
Chairman Egbo also used the opportunity to advise parents to be more watchful over their children and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
He had a powerful message for young people too:
“Don’t fall into the trap of trying to get rich quickly. Many youths have gone into dangerous paths like blood rituals, fraud (Yahoo Yahoo), kidnapping, and armed robbery because of it.”
What’s Next?
Here are the key steps being taken:
- An investigation committee is working to find out how many children are really missing and what happened.
- Security patrols and community surveillance will be improved in Agbarho.
- Residents are urged to report strange people or unusual behavior in their areas.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about reacting to a crisis. Chairman Jaro Egbo says this is part of a larger plan to improve peace and security in Ughelli North.
The meeting showed that local leaders, traditional rulers, security forces, and residents are coming together to protect their community — especially the children.
For everyone in Agbarho, this is a reminder that community safety is everyone’s responsibility — and it starts by staying alert, being informed, and speaking out when something doesn’t feel right.
