By Our Correspondent
The wave of petty stealing of domestic and household items has increased in Obiaruku, the headquarters of the Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, a trend that is not unconnected with the worsened state of Nigeria’s economy.
The cost of food items have continued to increase since the beginning of this year and this is telling on the socio-economic life of the common man.
The event of yesterday April at Obiaruku will remain memorable in the commercial life of Mrs. Agnes, a food seller who hawks across the streets daily.
According to a source, Mrs. Agnes started the day’s business on the fateful day when after preparing a pot of stew, thereafter went to take her bath after placing the rice on the fire. Unknown to her, a hungry thief who could not tolerate the provocation of the aroma of her stew was lurking around the corner.
No sooner had she entered the bathroom than, the thief swiftly entered her kitchen and made away with her pot of stew. While crying along the street where she announced her ordeal to the public, she put the total cost of making the stew at N6, 000.
Mrs Agnes ordeal was just one example of how hunger has turned the poor into petty stealing.
Over 4 small generator sets, popularly known as ‘I pass my neighbor’ generator has been reportedly stolen in Obiaruku since last month. News had it that the stolen generating sets got missing even when they were in use by their neighbours.
The report indicates that they, owners of the generators were inside their respective houses watching their TV sets when power supply was cut off. They only had to come outside to find out what went wrong and discovered that the generating sets were no longer in their positions.
Upon raising alarm, they could be lucky to be simply told by a passerby that they saw a man drive off with a small ‘I pass my neigbour’ generator few seconds ago.
