Abia state government has arrested no fewer than 84 individuals in different parts of Umuahia, the state capital for going about their business and activities while July environmental sanitation (clean up) was going on.

The exercise was held between 7 am to 10 am and residents were expected to stay calm and join hands to tidy their environments. However, the 84 arrested persons were said to have disobeyed the directive and decided to go about their activities as some packed up to travel, others to trade, etc where they were all arrested respectively.

They were later brought to the environmental Mobile Court sitting at Umuahia High Court Complex presided over by Magistrate Onyinyechi Ibekwe for contravening Abia State basic environmental laws.

At the court, some of the offenders claimed not to have heard the announcement as some said they did not listen to the news.

Meanwhile, some others pleaded the court to have mercy and understand them.

In his judgement, magistrate Ibekwe discharged 11 persons including a medical doctor who was on his way to discharge his duty.

Also, among the discharged was a Professor who said he was on his way for an exam and nine students who said they were also going for exams.

However, 73 other offenders were fined and cautioned.

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Meanwhile, after the environmental exercise, the Abia State Commissioner for environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna in an interview with journalists statef that the number of people who complied with the July exercise was overwhelming and impressive.

Specifically, he lauded Orie Ugba market traders and other residents for supporting Governor Alex Otti on the clean environment and health initiative.

He further called on local government chairmen in the state to always ensure cleanliness in the communities under them.

In his remark, the chairman of the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Mba Nwoke Kalu, urged Abia residents to always keep their surroundings clean and stay indoors during environmental days to avoid extortion and harassment by security personnel who may be on illegal duties.