In the bustling streets of N’Djamena, a disturbing trend has taken root. Amid the city’s daily hustle, the rhythmic clatter of pushcarts laden with scrap metal echoes through the neighborhoods. The vendors shout, « Hadid kilo ! Hadid kilo ! », a cry that has become synonymous with a growing phenomenon—one that is placing the city’s children in harm’s way.
the rise of a risky trade
What began as a modest activity has evolved into a thriving informal industry. The « Hadid kilo » trade, or kilogram-based scrap metal collection, now dominates the urban landscape. While some locals participate in this trade, a significant portion consists of itinerant merchants from neighboring countries like Niger and Nigeria. Operating without proper documentation, these vendors move from street to street, collecting and reselling metal at a rapid pace.
Their presence is not just economic but deeply social. Many of these merchants arrive with the sole intention of earning quick cash before returning home, leaving little trace of their activities. Yet, their trade has inadvertently drawn children into its web, creating a cycle of dependency and risky behavior.
stolen treasures and lost innocence
The consequences of this trade are stark. In the Ngabo district, a 10-year-old child was caught selling his mother’s gas cylinder for a mere 600 FCFA. In Ndjari, an 8-year-old parted ways with his younger brother’s bicycle for just 250 FCFA. Meanwhile, in Zafaye, a child sold a critical component of his father’s car for 1,000 FCFA. These are not isolated incidents but part of a troubling pattern.
Parents and community members express alarm at the ease with which children are turning to theft to fuel this trade. The allure of quick money, paired with the lack of supervision, has created an environment where minors are vulnerable to exploitation. The stolen items—often essential household or family possessions—are sold without hesitation, leaving families in distress and children morally compromised.
a call for urgent intervention
Residents are demanding action. They urge authorities to implement strict measures, including prohibiting the purchase of scrap metal from children, regulating itinerant vendors, and monitoring markets where such transactions occur. The plea is clear: protect the innocence of childhood and curb the slide into delinquency that this trade fosters.
Observers warn that if left unchecked, the « Hadid kilo » phenomenon could deepen social fractures, erode trust within communities, and jeopardize the future of N’Djamena’s youth. The time for decisive action is now, they argue, before the situation spirals further out of control.