No fewer than 64 offenders were arrested at the weekend for violating the environmental laws in Ondo State.

The arrest came as the government warned residents to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the metropolis, especially on the waterways, as such act would no longer be tolerated.

Sunday Akinwalire, Commissioner for Environment in Ondo, warned on Sunday while expressing his disgust at how residents failed to comply with the July edition of the state’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

Mr Akinwalire explained that the offenders, mostly arrested in the remote area of Odo Ijoka at Sabo in Akure, would have to appear before the environmental court for various fines and prosecution.

“Those arrested would appear before the environmental court, and we are appealing to residents to do the needful in maintaining a clean environment to prevent environmental related diseases,” he said.

He, however, condemned the adamant nature of residents who do not clean their environment, stressing that the state government would ensure all obey environmental laws.

While asking the traditional rulers to sensitise their subjects on the various means to prevent flood in their jurisdiction, Mr Akinwalire pleaded with traders to ensure the regular cleaning of their stores and shops and void littering the environment with waste which could attract diseases.

Adekunle Olajumbu, the acting general manager of Ondo State Waste Management Authority (ODSWMA), frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of the residents towards participating in the monthly environmental exercise.

Mr Olajumbu said government authority was more prepared to enforce the environmental law and sanction offenders.

“We have put in place both early morning and night enforcement aside the routine enforcement to checkmate the excesses of citizens, especially those who dump waste illegally along major roads in Akure,” he said.