The Borno State government has announced plans to prosecute residents involved in open defecation and the illegal dumping of refuse in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere local council areas.

The affected communities include Zajjeri, Bolori ward II, Baga fish market, and Old Maiduguri, located to the north of the metropolis.

The announcement was made yesterday in Maiduguri by Dr Juliana Bitrus, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, during an environmental sensitisation and enforcement exercise aimed at educating the public in the targeted communities.

Bitrus highlighted the health risks and environmental degradation caused by illegal waste dumping and open defecation, emphasising that drainage facilities should not be used for disposing of household waste and refuse.

Abubakar Suleiman, the General Manager of the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), confirmed that the sanitation team had engaged with residents, encouraging them to take responsibility for their surroundings and comply with environmental regulations.

Suleiman warned that anyone found guilty of open defecation or indiscriminate refuse dumping would face legal action. He reiterated that the state government would no longer tolerate such environmental violations, stating, “Violators of a clean environment will face the full wrath of the law.”

He also called for community collaboration in supporting the state government’s sanitation efforts, stressing the importance of keeping the environment clean to prevent diseases such as cholera and polio, particularly among children.