Following the death of three forest operators allegedly killed by the toxic waste reaction dumped in the forest by a manufacturing company, in Omotosho, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, the Chairman of Ondo/Linyi Industrial Hub, Chief Alex Ajipe, has called for an investigation to unravel the cause of the death of the three men.
Ajipe who made this call while speaking with newsmen in Akure, Ondo State capital, said the investigation became necessary to ascertain the cause of the death of the three persons rather than jumping to conclusion and lay the blame at the doorsteps of the company.
According to him, all the seven companies situated within the industrial hub complied with the rules and regulations on the environment as stipulated by the nation’s constitution.
He said apart from this, the national and state agencies on control of environmental issues have their offices within the hub to check and monitor the activities of these companies.
He said, “All agencies in charge of environmental control in Nigeria have their presence in the hub and all companies within the hub have no choice than to comply with all the rules and regulations as laid down by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I am stating here categorically that none of the companies here can dare to do what runs contrary to the dictates of our laws in this country.
“Their operation is in tandem with international standards. Waste from the hub is being properly evacuated.
“So we wonder how a toxic waste that did not kill workers in the company and residents of the hub will now be responsible for the killing of people in Akinfosile area which is very far to the company.”
Ajipe who noted political colouration in the allegations against the industrial hub called on the state police command to do a thorough investigation in the death of the three persons.
“As we all know that this is election time, we are sure that some politicians are behind this malicious and false story just to discredit the government of Arakunrin Akeredolu and his industrialization strides.
“We will, however, like to make it clear to the whole world that the story is not true but is emanating from enemies of progress who want to use the incident to rubbish the image of our company and that of the Ondo State Government because of the forthcoming election.
“This allegation is both distasteful and regretful. It is also a shame that some people will just sit down and deliberately embark on peddling complete falsehood in a desperate attempt to discredit a company that is making impacts in changing Ondo state to an industrial hub.
“We will, however, like to make it clear to the whole world that the story is not true but is emanating from enemies of progress who want to use the incident to rubbish the image of our company and that of the Ondo State Government because of the forthcoming election.”
He appealed to the people that Police should be allowed to carry out appropriate investigation including autopsy tests of the persons reportedly said to have died as a result of toxic wastes in the forest.
“Whilst we appreciate the Nigerian police for their prompt action, we urge them to do a thorough investigation of the incident and come out with the facts.”
It would be recalled that three-person reportedly killed by toxic waste deposited by a company in Omotosho forest
The three men allegedly killed by toxic waste include Mr Akinmusire Monday(35), Mr Samuel Louis (45), and Master Ododolewa Adebowale(19), who was writing his WASSC examination.