One slumps as ESWAMA nabs 130

BY Tony Edike
ENUGU— ABOUT 130 people were arrested in Enugu, yesterday, by officials of  Enugu State Waste Management Agency, ESWAMA, for allegedly failing to participate in the monthly sanitation.

However, a young man, among the arrested persons, slumped in the agency’s detention camp and was being treated at the Eastern Medical Centre at press time.

The young man was reportedly picked up in front of his house during the exercise and detained along with others who were later tried by the sanitation court.

When it was his turn to appear before the Magistrate for trial, he began to shout, saying he was ill but a policeman attached to the agency handcuffed him and attempted to pull him out.

He slumped and became unconscious.

He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was revived and later admitted for further treatment.

The enforcement officers of the agency had during the sanitation, apprehended about 130 offenders, most of whom were convicted and released after paying fines ranging from N2,000 to N8,000.

Head of the enforcement department, who identified himself as Mr. Nnamani, said the convicted persons violated the ESWAMA rules regarding observance of the monthly sanitation.

But some of the arrested persons complained that they came from outside the state where the exercise did not hold yesterday.
They told the court that since they were not aware that Enugu State observed the exercise yesterday, they should be discharged.

The court, however, discharged those on essential duties but majority were convicted and fined.