A man in northern Nigeria
has been sentenced to two weeks in prison after neighbours complained that he
was storing bags of human faeces outside his home, making life in the area
unbearable.
Mohammed Saidu was
brought before a court in the city of Kano after residents reported the foul
odour to environmental officials. Magistrate Halima Wali ordered that he be
detained for 14 days and fined 100,000 naira (£55; $74), describing his actions
as highly inconsiderate and a threat to his neighbours' health.
Saidu, whose job involves
emptying septic tanks, is believed to have been selling the waste to farmers
for use as fertiliser—a common but rarely publicly acknowledged practice in the
region.
Neighbours
Endured Unbearable Stench
Local chief Musa
Abdullahi told the BBC that the complaint first came to his attention when
Saidu had accumulated close to 50 bags of faeces.
Neighbours said the
stench from the property had become so overwhelming that it was impossible to
relax at home.
One of those who
complained, Samaila Inuwa, told the BBC that residents had initially tried to
resolve the matter privately.
"We spoke to him
about it but he didn't stop," Inuwa said.
Court
Ruling and Clean-up Order
In court, Saidu pleaded
guilty to the charge of endangering public health. Before delivering her
ruling, Magistrate Wali visited the property to inspect the bags of faeces for
herself.
She ordered Saidu to
clear all waste from the premises and promise never to repeat the offence.
Inuwa said life had
already improved for residents since the case was brought to court.
"Finally, our
neighbourhood is enjoyable once more without any bad smell," he said.
Chief's
Intervention and Future Plans
The local chief said he
had previously intervened when Saidu first started storing the waste.
"When he first
started it, I spoke to him about it and he packed them out and stopped,"
he said. "I did not know when he resumed."
He added that neighbours
had chosen to bypass him this time and go directly to the authorities.
Abdullahi said his own
home was far enough away that he had not been affected by the smell, but he
understood the residents' frustration.
"My mission is for
everybody in this area to live in peace," he said. "When he is
released, we will talk to him and the neighbours again."