Over 138 persons have been arrested and prosecuted by the Ebonyi State Government for defecating in open places.

The Commissioner for Environment, Ogodo Nome, disclosed this in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Also, over 60 landlords in Abakaliki alone have been prosecuted for refusal to install toilet facilities in their houses.

Mr. Nome attributed the spread of most diseases in the state to poor sanitary conditions by residents.

According to him, lack of toilet facilities and dirty environment can lead to contraction of diseases and warned that.

“Anyone who erects buildings in the state without toilet facilities will be sanctioned according to the state environmental law”, he warned.

He noted that the state government has taken measures to prevent incessant fire outbreak in the state.

He said security has been beefed up in the state’s main market, Abakpa main market, to ensure that hoodlums don’t have access to the market.

The first case of fire incident in the market two weeks ago, he said, was recorded because of the activities of miscreants who usually smoke in some parts of the area.

He added that street trading around the market has been banned and warned that anyone caught in the act will be dealt with.

Mr. Nome also announced that the government has banned trading on all the tarred roads in the metropolis.
The Commissioner promised that government will assist victims of fire disasters in the state in any way it can.