The Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has sealed two shopping complexes in the Gbagi area of Ibadan following a violent confrontation between traders and government enforcement officers during a night operation.
According to a report by Oyo Insight, the incident occurred on Tuesday night when members of the Environmental Response Rapid Squad (ERRS) and Environmental Health Officers apprehended three individuals for illegally dumping waste on a road median, an offence under the Oyo State Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management Regulation of 2013.
The operation, however, took a violent turn when some traders and occupants in the area reportedly mobilized to resist the arrests, attacking the enforcement officers and freeing the suspects. Three government officials sustained injuries in the ensuing chaos, forcing others to retreat.
In response, the Ministry obtained a court order from Justice Olumide Abifarin authorizing the sealing of two shopping complexes linked to the incident. The Ministry said the action was necessary to uphold environmental discipline, maintain order, and serve as a deterrent against future resistance to lawful enforcement.
A senior official who led the operation explained that the measure was both punitive and preventive, adding that officers would continue monitoring compliance across Ibadan and other parts of the state.
The Ministry condemned the attack, describing it as a violation of Section 9 of the Oyo State Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management Regulation, which empowers enforcement officers to apprehend offenders and prosecute them in an Environmental Mobile Court. It warned that no individual or business is above the law and that any obstruction of lawful duties will attract immediate legal sanctions.
The government also urged residents, traders, and property owners to cooperate with environmental officials, refrain from illegal waste dumping, and use designated collection points to avoid penalties.
Attribution:
This report is based on a story originally published by Oyo Insight.
