Monthly sanitation: 89 violators arrested in Umuahia

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Monthly sanitation: 89 violators arrested in Umuahia

Eighty nine persons were on Saturday arrested in various parts of Umuahia, Abia State capital, during the December edition of the monthly sanitation exercise.

The defaulters were picked up by the combined task force team while trading or loitering during the 7-10 am clean up hours and brought to Abia State High Court, Umuahia, where they were arraigned before Magistrate Onyinyechi Ibekwe.

Four of the arrested persons were discharged on health grounds while six others were freed after identifying themselves as students.

Seventy nine of the offenders were made to pay some fines for contravening Abia State basic environmental laws and then admonished to be good citizens henceforth.

Speaking to journalists after monitoring the exercise, the Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna, said he was impressed that many Abia residents are keying into the ‘Clean Abia Policy’ of Governor Alex Otti.

He further warned Abia residents against messing up the environment in the name of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Umuahia North LGA, Smart Ihuoma, said that an illegal revenue syndicate was discovered in Orie Ugba market, Umuahia.

He added that the leader of the alleged syndicate is pocketing revenue due to the government even without using it to maintain the market.

He vowed to step on the toes of identified illegal revenue agents in the state.

Ihuoma further expressed worry at the dirty conditions of Orie Ugba market which he said posed danger to the health of traders and customers.

The LGA chairman also announced the suspension of sale of tickets in the market.