Eighty four persons were on Saturday arrested in different parts of Umuahia, Abia State, for trading in their business premises, travelling or loitering during the July environmental sanitation exercise held between 7 am and 10 am.
They were arrested at different parts of the town and brought to the environmental Mobile Court sitting at Umuahia High Court Complex for contravening Abia State basic environmental laws.
Some of the arrested offenders claimed they did not listen to radio and therefore did not hear the government announcements on radio stations about the programme, while other defaulters pleaded for mercy and understanding.
The court presided over by Magistrate Onyinyechi Ibekwe discharged 11 persons comprising a medical doctor heading for duty, a Professor going for an exam and nine students who said they were also going for exams, while 73 other defaulters were fined or cautioned.
Speaking to journalists after the environmental exercise, Abia State Commissioner for environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna described the compliance level of July sanitation exercise as overwhelming impressive.
He praised the traders at Orie Ugba market and other residents for keying into Governor Alex Otti’s clean environment and health initiatives.
He further urged local government chairmen in the state to always ensure that communities under their care are always kept clean.
Also, the chairman of the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Mba Nwoke Kalu, advised residents of the state to clean their surroundings and stay indoors during clean-up days to avoid extortion and harassment by security personnel who are on illegal duties.
