A man in Kano State has been sentenced to two weeks in prison and fined N100,000 for storing bags of human faeces outside his residence, creating a severe environmental nuisance for neighbours.
The man, identified as Mohammed Saidu, was arraigned before a court in Kano after residents reported the offensive odour emanating from his property to environmental authorities.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Halima Wali sentenced Saidu to 14 days imprisonment and imposed a fine of N100,000 after he pleaded guilty to endangering public health. According to reports, Saidu works as a septic tank evacuator and allegedly stored the waste while preparing to sell it to farmers for use as fertiliser, a practice that is common in some parts of the region.
Residents of the area complained that the stench from the stored waste had made daily life difficult and unbearable. One of the complainants, Samaila Inuwa, said neighbours initially tried to resolve the issue amicably by speaking with Saidu, but he failed to stop the practice.
Before delivering her ruling, Magistrate Wali personally visited the property to inspect the bags of waste. She subsequently ordered Saidu to remove all the faeces from the premises and warned him against repeating the offence.
Local community leader Musa Abdullahi revealed that he had previously intervened when Saidu first began storing the waste and that the suspect had temporarily stopped before resuming the practice. Abdullahi noted that residents chose to report the matter directly to authorities after repeated complaints failed to yield lasting results.
Following the court’s intervention, residents expressed relief, saying the neighbourhood had become more comfortable and free from the offensive smell.
The community leader added that efforts would be made to reconcile Saidu and his neighbours after his release, stressing the importance of maintaining peace and a healthy environment within the community.
