ASABA, December 4, 2025—The Asagba-in-Council, under the chairmanship of His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN (Asagba of Asaba), yesterday announced a total ban on iron-condemn (scrap metal) vending and the immediate evacuation of all scrap dumps across Asaba metropolis.
The far-reaching decisions were taken at an emergency meeting of the Asagba-in-Council held on Tuesday, December 3, 2025, at Ogwa-Uku Ahaba, prompted by escalating insecurity, rising drug abuse, criminal activities linked to scrap dealers, and the ongoing Anioma State creation debate.
Key resolutions from the meeting include:
Security & Crime Prevention
– Immediate removal of all iron-condemn dump sites in Asaba
– Complete prohibition of iron-condemn vending and buying within the capital territory
– Ban on overnight parking of trucks and articulated vehicles inside Asaba
– Directive to all quarters yet to establish vigilante groups to do so without delay
– Approval in principle for installation of 2,000 solar street lights in Koka Junction, Akwueofor, Ime-Obi and adjoining areas
– Planned establishment of a police post and internal security network in Koka/Akwueofor axis
– Identification of the popular Asaba market (Oko Ogbe) as a major criminal hideout requiring urgent attention
Speaking on the gruesome murder of Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, the Asagba disclosed that preliminary investigations point to a private security guard as a prime suspect and stressed the need for strict enforcement of “Operation Know Your Tenant” and proper vetting of night guards, especially as Christmas approaches.
Land Grabbing
The monarch issued a stern warning against multiple sales of the same parcel of land, declaring that any chief found complicit, no matter how highly placed, will be stripped of his title before the Asagba-in-Council.
Drug Abuse
HRM Azinge announced that a modern drug rehabilitation centre in Asaba is nearing completion and vowed that drug barons and peddlers will face decisive action once it becomes operational.
Enforcement of the new measures has been assigned to Ogbueshi Uche Nwajei (Onoi Ahaba) and Ogbueshi Nnamdi Chukwuedozi (Chairman, Asaba Community Vigilante).
The meeting, which began at 1:08 p.m. and ended at 3:30 p.m., also touched on the upcoming Asaba International 10km Road Race billed for December 6, 2025, and efforts to form a standard Asaba Football Club.
A minute’s silence was observed in honour of the late Odogwu of Ahaba, Chief Peter Nwanze Oduah.
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