The Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade has intensified its clampdown on environmental abuses across Anambra State with the arrest of thirteen persons over alleged illegal kaolin excavation activities in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, and Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state.
Reports have it that the arrests were carried out during a coordinated enforcement operation by the Brigade, following intelligence reports that illegal excavation of kaolin and indiscriminate removal of soil were ongoing in the affected communities, with grave consequences for the environment and public safety.
It was further gathered that the suspects were apprehended at identified excavation sites where large portions of land had been degraded through unregulated digging, after which the Brigade also immediately sealed the affected locations to stop further excavation and prevent the worsening of erosion and land collapse in the areas.
According to OCHA Brigade, illegal excavation activities have been consistently linked to the worsening erosion crisis in Anambra State. The practice, the agency noted, weakens soil structure, destroys farmlands, exposes underground layers and leaves communities vulnerable to flooding and gully erosion, particularly during the rainy season. Beyond environmental damage, the agency said such illegal mining activities also threaten public infrastructure, livelihoods and long-term sustainability of affected communities.
Speaking further on the operation, the Managing Director of the OCHA Brigade, Mr. Celestine Anere, said the agency has strengthened its enforcement strategies against all forms of activities that undermine environmental protection and public safety in the state.
Comrade Anere disclosed that the suspects arrested during the operation would be prosecuted in accordance with existing laws, stressing that the enforcement action was aimed at sending a clear message and serving as a deterrent to individuals and groups engaging in illegal excavation and environmental degradation across Anambra State.
He reassured the Brigade’s commitment to protecting government lands and properties, enforcing environmental regulations and supporting state policies geared towards sustainable development. According to him, consistent and sustained enforcement remains one of the most effective tools in tackling erosion and safeguarding communities from avoidable environmental disasters.
The OCHA Brigade Boss further warned that the agency would not relent in its operations, as illegal excavation and other environmentally harmful practices pose serious long-term risks if allowed to continue unchecked. He also called on Ndị Anambra to continue to support government efforts by reporting illegal activities and complying with environmental laws, as the state, under Governor Chukwuma Soludo, works to build a cleaner, safer and more resilient Anambra.
Source: Onyokomita.com
