Kwara: 150 arrested for violating environmental law during monthly sanitation exercise
In Ilorin, Kwara State, 150 individuals were arrested on Saturday for breaching the State Environmental Law during the monthly sanitation exercise.
The offenders, including motorcycle and tricycle riders as well as market women, were charged before mobile courts at various locations across the state and penalized according to legal provisions.
Nafisat Buge, the Commissioner for Environment, confirmed the arrests, emphasizing that the government had taken significant steps to sensitize the public.
“Despite sensitisation and advocacy on both print and electronic media as well as other social media platforms, violators still dared the law by coming out during the exercise, especially the motorcycle and tricycle riders; and market women.
“We often start media advocacy and sensitisation from Monday that preceded the sanitation day, also engaging media houses and different social media platforms to disseminate information on sanitation, till the Saturday morning, before the commencement of the exercise, yet some people went about their businesses in violation of the law.”
Ms. Buge described the actions of the violators as unacceptable, reiterating that future offenders would face legal consequences. She stressed the importance of public adherence to the sanitation initiative aimed at maintaining environmental cleanliness.
The task force monitored compliance across the state, ensuring the arrested individuals faced prosecution as a deterrent to others.
