Thirteen persons were tried by the Special Tribunal on environmental sanitation in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for reportedly violating environmental laws.
The defaulters were allegedly arrested at different points within the metropolis by the state Environmental Taskforce, on Thursday, for dumping refuse into the waterways against the law.
During an interview with journalists, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Dr Bashir Olanrewaju, said the offenders were caught at Gate, Mokola, Adamasingba, and Arometa axis in Ibadan.
Olanrewaju, who said the defaulters were tried in accordance to the state’s environmental law, urged the people to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse as the government would continue to maintain zero tolerance for unhygienic practices.
According to him, the government expects each household to register with the accredited refuse collectors in the state for proper disposal of refuse.
He said, “It is no more about warning but prosecution of anybody caught dumping refuse on waterways. This act has reduced since government scaled up its campaign but some recalcitrant individuals still persist.
“Those 13 that were arrested will face the consequence of their actions. The implication of this legal approach is to deter others from committing the same offence.”
Meanwhile, three officials of the state environment task force monitoring team were reported to have been attacked by some hoodlums at the market, under the Molete Bridge in Ibadan, on Thursday during the weekly sanitation exercise.
The Chairman of the state Environmental Task Force, Francis Ojomo, said the team had arrested two people, a male and a female for interrogation on the matter.
Ojomo, who noted that Molete is volatile and notorious for Indian hemp smoking and the use of hard drugs, assured members of the public that those perpetrating evil acts in the area would soon be brought to book.
Those injured, he said, had been hospitalised and were responding to treatment.
