The Osun State Amotekun Corps has arrested more than 30 persons for allegedly violating the state’s environmental sanitation regulations through indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roads and inside drainage channels in Osogbo and its environs.
The arrests were made in the early hours of Tuesday, during an enforcement operation jointly conducted by operatives of the Amotekun Corps and environmental sanitation authorities.
The operation is part of the state government’s renewed efforts to curb indiscriminate waste disposal, particularly the dumping of refuse on roads, streets and drainage channels, which can obstruct the free flow of rainwater and increase the risk of flooding and other environmental hazards.
The enforcement followed the recent constitution of an Environmental Sanitation Task Force by the Osun State Government under the leadership of Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke.
The government had warned residents against indiscriminate waste disposal and directed them to comply with approved waste collection and disposal arrangements.
The Amotekun Corps was subsequently mandated to collaborate with environmental sanitation officials to identify and apprehend persons found violating the state’s environmental regulations.
The arrested persons were handed over to environmental sanitation officials for further investigation and appropriate action in accordance with relevant environmental laws and regulations.
Speaking with journalists in Osogbo, the Corps Commander of the Osun Amotekun Corps, High Chief Dr. Hon. Adekunle Isaac Omoyele, said the enforcement was necessary to address the persistent practice of dumping refuse on roads and in drainage channels.
Omoyele warned that indiscriminate waste disposal poses serious environmental risks, particularly during the rainy season, when refuse dumped in drainage channels can obstruct water flow, contribute to flooding, damage roads and create unhealthy conditions.
He stressed that the operation was not aimed at inconveniencing law-abiding residents but at ensuring compliance with the state government’s environmental sanitation directives and protecting communities from the consequences of improper waste disposal.
The Corps Commander urged residents across the state to cooperate with the government and desist from dumping refuse on roads, streets and drainage channels.
He also encouraged residents to take advantage of waste collection arrangements provided by the state government, noting that refuse trucks had been assigned to collect household waste from residents.
Omoyele appealed to residents to properly package their waste and hand it over to designated waste collectors rather than dumping it at unauthorised locations.
He further warned that the Amotekun Corps would continue to support environmental sanitation officials in enforcing the government’s directives and ensuring that violators are brought before the appropriate authorities.
According to him, maintaining a clean and healthy environment is a collective responsibility requiring the cooperation of government agencies, residents, business owners and other stakeholders.
The Osun Amotekun Corps called on residents to support the ongoing sanitation campaign by keeping their surroundings clean and using approved waste disposal channels.
The Corps reiterated its commitment to collaborating with relevant government agencies to promote environmental cleanliness, prevent the blockage of drainage systems and protect roads and other public infrastructure across the state.
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