Ocha Brigade Arrests 25 for Open Defecation, Other Environmental Offences in Onitsha

By Polycarp Ifeanyi

No fewer than 25 persons have been arrested for open defecation and other environmental health–related offences in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The suspects were apprehended by operatives of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, popularly known as Ocha Brigade, at various locations across the commercial city while allegedly committing offences such as indiscriminate refuse disposal, urinating in unauthorized places, and open defecation.
Before the emergence of Ocha Brigade as one of the agencies enforcing environmental sanitation laws in the state, indiscriminate waste disposal had reportedly become rampant.
Traders, hawkers, and other offenders littered streets and public spaces with heaps of refuse and human waste, creating offensive odours and posing serious public health risks to residents and pedestrians, particularly those crossing busy expressways.
However, recent enforcement efforts by the agency appear to be yielding results. Open defecation, indiscriminate refuse dumping, and urination in unauthorized places have reportedly declined following an intensified crackdown on offenders.
It will be recalled that the Managing Director of the Ocha Brigade Agency, Chief Celestine Anere, has repeatedly urged residents to desist from environmental violations.
He warned that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law, stressing that the agency remains committed to strict enforcement of Anambra State’s environmental regulations.
In Onitsha, the Ocha Brigade unit, led by Mr. Ejike Odife, has stepped up monitoring and enforcement activities to ensure a cleaner environment.
Areas under close surveillance include Upper Iweka, the Niger Bridge Head, Ogbaru Local Government Area, the Onitsha–Owerri Road (including Obodoukwu Road), and other strategic locations within the city.
Speaking in a telephone interview, Mr. Odife confirmed the arrest of the 25 suspects, stating that they would be prosecuted in accordance with the law. He reiterated that the agency’s leadership had consistently warned residents against defacing the environment with human waste and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, but noted that some individuals had ignored these directives.
He advised residents to make use of designated public conveniences located across the city, including facilities at Upper Iweka, the Onitsha–Owerri Road, the Asaba Expressway axis, the Bridge Head area, and the Lagos Park axis.
Odife also commended Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for his developmental strides in Anambra State, particularly in environmental sanitation, healthcare, and infrastructure.
He further praised Chief Celestine Anere for his leadership and commitment to ensuring that the Ocha Brigade effectively enforces environmental laws and maintains public hygiene standards across the state.