Edo public works volunteers arrest two fake officials
Begins clampdown on environmental law violators
OFFICIALS of Edo State Public Works Volunteers ( PUWOV) have arrested two suspected impersonators of the scheme operating in Benin metropolis.
The PUWOV State Coordinator, Mukhtar Yusuf- Osagie, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, said the suspects have been assaulting, extorting and impounding vehicles of unsuspecting members of the public while posing as officials of PUWOV.
According to Yusuf- Osagie, the suspects: Famous Sunday and Osasuyi Ken, were apprehended at Ibiwe Junction, Ring Road axis of the Benin metropolis.
He noted that the suspects have been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
He said: “Officials of Edo State Public Works Volunteers ( PUWOV) have apprehended two fake PUWOV officials in the Benin metropolis. “The two fake PUWOV officials were arrested at Ibiwe Junction, Ring Road in Benin metropolis. They were caught assaulting and extorting one Mr. Sunday Omonyeki, a Toyota Corolla driver. The suspects threatened to take the driver and his vehicle to Urhokpota Hall, which they claimed was their office.
“The suspects have been handed over to the Oba Market Police Division for further investigation and prosecution.
“While we reassure our commitment to sanitise the volunteer scheme and rid it of bad eggs, we urge members of the public to be mindful and watchful of impersonators, operating and extorting motorists while posing as PUWOV officials and report same to appropriate authorities.”
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EANWHILE, Edo State Government has commenced clampdown on violators of environment laws in Benin metropolis, as part of renewed effort to ensure a cleaner and safer environment.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Jonathan Lawani, led officials from the ministry, public health workers and waste management board officers to clamp down on violators in major streets and markets within the Benin metropolis.
He said: “We are enforcing environmental laws within the state. About three weeks ago, we started operation clean Edo where we advised residents to also join efforts to clean up the state.
“The government has commenced clearing and cleaning up public places. We have cleared up overgrown grasses, swept and cleaned up different places, including Airport Road, Sapele Road, Oba Market Road and Siluko Road, among others. “We have now said that people should support us in this cleanup exercise and by doing so, we have advised our health officers to do their jobs by serving abatement notices and other notices to residents to ensure that they clean up their premises and evacuate their wastes properly.
“At the Aduwawa Market, despite the ‘ No Refuse Dump’ sign, they have continued to indiscriminately dump refuse here. Now, we have agreed to work with the vigilantes that are in this market to make sure that those that are doing this are arrested. We have given the vigilantes our numbers so they can reach us anytime they find anybody doing this so they can be arrested and prosecuted.”
At Upper Mission Extension, the commissioner commended businesses and residents who kept to the requirements of the law regarding waste disposal, while violators were arrested and made to face the law.
He said: “We visited those we have served court summons and arrested some offenders who have not complied with the instructions and notices served to them.