ASEPA charges 17 environmental polluters to court in Umuahia

The Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has taken legal action against 17 environmental polluters in Umuahia, the state capital, as part of efforts to maintain a clean and healthy environment. The offenders, consisting of 7 males and 10 females, were arrested for littering and indiscriminately dumping refuse in various locations.

ASEPA's Deputy Manager in Umuahia, Catechist Ambros Jonah, emphasized the importance of environmental cleanliness and hygiene, stating that the full weight of the law would be applied to anyone caught polluting the environment. The agency has also changed the approved hours for refuse dumping in Umuahia and has started monitoring the situation closely.

Offenders have been given the option to pay a fine or face prosecution. ASEPA warned that shop owners, tenants, traders, and market sellers could also be held accountable for environmental offenses.