Benin — RESIDENTS of Textile Mill Road in Benin City, Edo State, have vowed to protest the alleged refusal by the state Ministry of Environment to clear the heap of refuse on the road, even after officials of the state Task Force on Environment, allegedly collected about N50,000 from landlords in the area.

Vanguard learnt that landlords in the area were ordered by the state Task Force on Environment to clear the debris in the drains in front of their houses to enable those in charge of sanitation to dispose of them.

Consequently, the landlords got labourers to clear the drains as directed by the Task Force. One of the landlords, Mr. Osarienmen Idemudia told Vanguard that "we were shocked that after we did what they asked us to do, officials of the Task Force came with a demand notice, threatening to take us to court for failing to clear the drains."

Vanguard learnt that following the threat, the landlords started bribing members of the Task Force to avoid being dragged to court.