Lagos State Government has arrested a total of 93 individuals in two separate operations targeting environmental violations and public safety concerns in Ikeja and Lagos Island.
EpeInsights learnt that on Thursday, 37 traders comprising, 23 men and 14 women were apprehended at Kodesoh, Ikeja, for breaking government seals and assaulting enforcement officers during an environmental enforcement exercise.
The arrests were confirmed on Friday by the Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
According to Wahab, the enforcement officers from the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) patrol team approached traders around 2:00 pm on Saturday, advising them to remove their wares from walkways and roadsides and to stop indiscriminate refuse dumping.
However, some traders resisted the directive, assaulted a KAI officer and seized his phone. Despite having their stalls sealed by the enforcement team, the traders forcibly removed the seals and resumed trading activities.
The patrol team subsequently resealed the stalls and arrested the offending traders. All suspects are set to be prosecuted under relevant state laws.
In a separate early morning operation at about 1:30 am on Friday, Lagos State Environmental Taskforce arrested 56 male suspects during a clean-up enforcement exercise on Lagos Island.
The operation covered areas including Falomo Bridge, Four Points, First Gate, Muri Okunola Park, the Law School area, and adjoining streets, where authorities noted the presence of “undesirable elements.”
During the raid, narcotic substances suspected to be Indian hemp, other illicit drugs, and dangerous objects such as scissors were found among the suspects. Commissioner Wahab confirmed that all arrested individuals from both operations would be charged in court in line with state laws.
These enforcement actions underscore the Lagos State Government’s commitment to maintaining environmental standards and public safety across the metropolis.
