The Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Aba Zone, has condemned recent attacks on its staff and reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing environmental laws across the commercial city.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday, November 10, 2025, the Deputy General Manager of ASEPA (Aba Zone), Elder Okezie Ezengwa, described as “unacceptable and regrettable” a viral incident involving a clash between ASEPA workers and staff of a contractor to the Ministry of Works.
According to him, preliminary findings showed that the fight was provoked by the contractor’s staff, who allegedly attacked and beat up ASEPA’s General Supervisor while he was evacuating concrete debris from the road. Elder Ezengwa emphasized that the Agency condemns all forms of violence, whether against citizens or ASEPA personnel, and warned that anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
He further decried the increasing cases of physical assaults on ASEPA personnel while on duty, citing a recent incident where a Nigerian Legion officer, identified as Mr. Kenneth Madubuchi, allegedly attacked ASEPA’s monitoring team with a machete in an attempt to evade arrest for a serious environmental offence. The suspect, according to Elder Ezengwa, inflicted a deep cut on a staff member but has since been apprehended and is being prosecuted. He warned that ASEPA would not tolerate such attacks, urging residents to lodge complaints through the proper channels instead of resorting to violence.
On enforcement, ASEPA disclosed that it had sealed Tonimas Filling Station and Ariaria Junction Market for gross environmental violations, including the discharge of human waste and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
Deputy General Manager Elder Okezie Ezengwa explained that the agency acted through court orders to protect public health and urged traders to relocate to cleaner, better-equipped markets.
He also addressed the recent overflow of refuse in Aba, attributing it to equipment breakdowns that temporarily disrupted waste evacuation but have since been resolved.
Ezengwa further warned against bribery and extortion, insisting that all fines must be paid through official government channels, not to individual ASEPA workers.
He thanked residents, environmental ambassadors, and media partners for their cooperation and urged continued support to maintain a cleaner and healthier Aba.
