To avoid future fatalities and disasters, the Ebem Ohafia village in the Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State has declared a ban on the selling of cooking gas (LPG) in its marketplace.
It is understood that the Council of Chiefs and Elders held an emergency meeting before making the decision, which was then formalized in a communique released by Ekeleugo Ebem and the Ebem Ujurueze Palace.
The prohibition was described as an absolute step intended to address mounting safety concerns in a communiqué signed by Ezie Ukoha Kalu Ukoha, the paramount monarch of Ebem Ohafia, and other community leaders.
The community leaders also denounced a number of social vices, such as drug misuse, gangsterism, and cultism, in addition to the cooking gas prohibition.
The leaders of the community have ruled these acts unlawful with immediate effect since they were judged unacceptable.
The leaders advised guardians and parents to closely monitor their wards and children. Additionally, they ordered landlords whose properties were being used for these illegal operations to either evict the violators or face disciplinary punishment.
The announcement stated, “Anyone found in unlawful possession of arms will be turned over to law enforcement.”
The leaders further increased security by giving all junk dealers in the area a two-week notice to cease operations. There will be severe disciplinary action taken for noncompliance.
The leaders attributed the prohibition to an increase in property theft and vandalism reports, which security investigations have linked to the operations of scrap dealers and their suppliers.
