Authorities of the Delta State Environmental Taskforce have arrested four environmental marshals in Asaba for illegally extorting residents at night, underscoring the Taskforce’s commitment to tackling corruption within its ranks.
The four environmental marshals were apprehended on Friday along Summit Road in Asaba, the Delta State capital, while engaging in unauthorised activities and illegal night extortion of residents of Oshimili South Local Government Area.
Details of the Arrest
The suspects were detained after a task force team, led by Chief Agbari, identified the marshals’ illegal actions and promptly contacted Comrade Adim Dikedi, the Supervisory Officer on Environment for Oshimili South.
Supervisor Dikedi ordered the immediate detention of the four officers at a police station until he could personally address the matter. A major concern arising from the incident was the discovery that one of the apprehended marshals was impersonating the current Supervisor on Environment, raising serious issues about integrity within the enforcement agency.
Commitment to Accountability
Supervisor Dikedi emphasised that his agency is committed to eradicating corruption among environmental marshals and that any form of misconduct would not be tolerated. He reaffirmed an existing directive, which prohibits marshals from operating beyond 4:00 pm.
He noted that the Ogbegonogo Central Market in Asaba is the only area where marshals are officially authorised to operate in the evenings, purely to assist with traffic decongestion.
Dikedi issued a strong warning that any Oshimili South environmental marshal caught operating at odd hours will be arrested immediately and taken to the nearest police station, reinforcing the need for strict adherence to operational guidelines. The incident, he said, highlights the challenges of overseeing environmental enforcement and the crucial need for transparency to maintain public trust.
