The Ekiti State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Ekiti State Waste Management Authority (EKSWMA) enforcement team, has arrested the man seen in a viral video discharging liquid waste with an offensive odour into a stream in the Basiri area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Chief Mrs Tosin Aluko- Ajisafe in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, revealed that “following swift action by the Ministry’s enforcement team, the perpetrator was apprehended, and his vehicle impounded.”
She however noted that the suspect, during interrogation, claimed that he was discharging dirty water, not sewage, into the stream.
The Commissioner stated that samples from the affected site have been taken for chemical analysis to determine the microbiological materials contained in liquid discharged in the stream, adding that the entire area would also be thoroughly fumigated to safeguard the health and well-being of residents in the area and prevent any potential health hazards from the dumped waste.
Assuring that the ongoing investigations would be thorough and concluded to prevent future occurrences and maintain a cleaner, safer environment in Ekiti State, the Commissioner reiterated the state government’s zero tolerance for illegal waste handling and disposal, stressing that there would be no sacred cow as all offenders would soon be prosecuted according to the law.
“The law will take its full course. Acts like this endanger public health and the environment. We must protect our communities,” she stated.
Erelu Aluko-Ajisafe urged residents to remain vigilant and report any acts of environmental violation that may jeopardize the safety of lives of the people to appropriate authorities.