A police officer, identified as Adebisoye, and 40 other residents of Osogbo, the Osun state capital, have been arrested by officials of the Osun State Waste Management Agency, OWMA, for allegedly dumping refuse on major roads in the state.
The individuals were rounded up during a special routine patrol of the agency within Osogbo metropolis.
Confirming the arrest to journalists on Tuesday, the acting General Manager of OWMA, Sanitarian Femi Ogunbamiwo, said the people were arrested for flouting the state’s environmental laws.
Ogunbamiwo said residents of the state had been warned on many occasions against dumping waste by the roadside and river channels, adding that many have however remained adamant.
He maintained that the arrested persons, including the police officer, would be charged to court, as he warned residents of the state against violating the state’s environmental sanitation law.
“We had earlier held a meeting with all stakeholders, including market women, security operatives , journalists, local government and LCDA officials, on how to develop a blueprint for the implementation of environmental sanitation in the state.
“Based on this, we expect residents of the state to desist from indiscriminate refuse dumping so as to keep the state safe from epidemics,” Ogunbamiwo stressed.
