The Imo State Government’s decision to suspend the activities of the Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) is a welcome development, but one that has come far too late. For years, residents of Owerri have cried out in agony over the lawless, crude, and barbaric conduct of these so-called enforcement officers who have brought nothing but pain, misery, and death to innocent citizens under the guise of maintaining environmental order.
The recent tragedy at Akachi/Wethedral Road, where two lives were snuffed out by ENTRACO operatives, was the tipping point. The chilling footage of that incident, which circulated online, left even the most hardened viewers in shock. It was a grim reminder of how state-backed impunity, left unchecked, can spiral into bloodshed. These were not mere accidents—they were the direct outcome of a culture of recklessness within ENTRACO’s ranks.
For too long, ENTRACO officials operated like street militias rather than civil enforcement officers. Their style was guerilla-like, their methods outdated, primitive, and utterly devoid of humanity. Clad in shabby uniforms, they pounced on motorists, traders, and commuters with ferocity—seizing vehicles, smashing windscreens, and manhandling citizens. Their raids often turned into violent confrontations that left victims injured, humiliated, or in some cases, dead.
Owerri residents have for months lamented bitterly about these atrocities. The Toronto Junction incident in Owerri North LGA remains one of the darkest stains on ENTRACO’s record. Reports indicated that during one of their so-called “operations,” lives were lost and several others maimed. People simply going about their daily struggle to survive in an already punishing economy found themselves brutalized by government agents acting with the arrogance of untouchables.
The victims’ stories are heart-wrenching. Petty traders had their goods destroyed, transporters had their vehicles vandalized, and ordinary citizens were beaten or extorted for no just cause. These were helpless men and women trying to make an honest living in a harsh economic climate, only to be met with violence by those supposedly employed to maintain order. In reality, ENTRACO became a symbol of disorder—an agency of fear, chaos, and oppression.
How a government body designed to enforce cleanliness and traffic discipline degenerated into a rogue outfit remains a shameful indictment of the system. Somewhere along the line, oversight was lost, empathy disappeared, and impunity became the rule. ENTRACO’s modus operandi was nothing short of state-sanctioned terror. The fact that it took multiple deaths for the government to act is an indictment of its previous tolerance for these excesses.
Governor Hope Uzodimma deserves commendation for finally wielding the big stick, suspending ENTRACO’s operations, and ordering a full-scale investigation into their activities. But this decision, as commendable as it is, should not stop at suspension. It must go further—toward justice, accountability, and total reform. The officers involved in these heinous acts must be arrested and prosecuted. Anything less would amount to hypocrisy.
Beyond ENTRACO, the governor should extend this purge to other task forces operating in Imo State. Many of them function like private militias, extorting citizens and tarnishing the image of government. These units should either be disbanded or restructured under strict professional and legal frameworks. Enforcement does not have to mean brutality. Discipline does not have to come at the expense of human dignity.
The suspension of ENTRACO should serve as a wake-up call to every government agency in Imo State. No task force, no matter how well-intentioned, has the right to trample on the rights of citizens or take innocent lives. Governance without compassion is tyranny, and public order enforced through violence is nothing but organized oppression.
Governor Uzodimma must now go the full length—disband ENTRACO completely, prosecute its erring officials, and replace it with a modern, humane, and law-abiding agency that reflects the values of justice and civility. The blood of the victims of ENTRACO’s brutality must not be in vain. This is the moment to prove that government still exists to protect—not to persecute—its people.
