For some days, the #EndSARS, #EndPoliceBrutality protests swept through most states in Nigeria particularly states in the South-South and Western geopolitical zones of the country.
Following the hijacking of the peaceful protest by hoodlums and the subsequent imposition of curfew by governors of the worst-hit states, the genuine protesters beat a retreat leading to return of normalcy.
Though calm has returned, some public and private property were vandalized, looted or set ablaze.
In Delta State like other affected states, most roads and streets especially in major cities and towns were littered with burn tyres, woods, tables and other materials used to form barricades by the protesters.
In swift response to the debris generated during the protests and the need to ensure cleanliness, free vehicular and pedestrian movements, the Delta State government through its agency known as the Delta State Waste Management Board, on Sunday began massive cleanup and evacuation of waste from the affected areas in the state.
Former Chairman of Warri South Local Government, Hon Mofe Edema, who is a member of the current board supervised the cleanup exercise for Delta South Senatorial District with particular emphasis on the Warri metropolis where much of the protest took in the district.
Some of the flashpoints for the protest covered so far in the cleanup are the popular Enerhen junction, McDermott road, Igbudu market area, Agbasa to Igbo market, Bowen Avenue road, Cementary road, Warri stadium road, New Port to Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri and Okere road to Deco road.
Speaking with NewsNet, Mr Edema said the exercise is in keeping with the core mandate of the Delta State Waste Management Board and the vision of the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to achieving a clean Delta before the end of his second term in office.
He stated that the board is now better positioned through the support of the governor to respond adequately and effectively to issues of waste clearing and evacuation in the state.
Mr Edeman used the opportunity to condole with the families of those who lost their lives during the #EndSARS protests across the country noting that the Nigerian youths who were the genuine peaceful protesters have through the protests expressed their thoughts and desires, and it is now left for the government to deal squarely with the issues that triggered the protest.
The Chairman of the Delta State Waste Management Board, Hon Emmanuel Chinye supervised the cleanup exercise in Asaba and other adjoining towns to the State Capital Territory while Olorogun Daniel Ighedo anchored the exercise in Uvwie, Udu Local Government Areas as well as other affected areas in the Delta Central of the state.
