Operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps and task force have arrested 92 miscreants and street traders for allegedly violating the state’s environmental laws.
A statement by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Thursday, revealed that five females and 70 males, suspected to be miscreants and street traders, were among those arrested.
The suspects were primarily arrested in areas such as Ikoyi, Lekki, and Victoria Island.
Some of those arrested in Ikoyi and Lekki were taken from areas such as Lugard Avenue, Bourdillon Road, Glover Road, Admiralty Way, Lekki Estate Road, Ikate, and Oniru Road. Meanwhile, raids in the Victoria Island area targeted locations including Ahmadu Bello Way, Saka Tinubu Street, Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Violet Yough Close, Adeyemo Alakija, Eko Hotel Roundabout, and Ajose Adeogun.
Wahab stated, “In a strategic overnight clearance operation, operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps apprehended 75 individuals.”
He said the arrested individuals would face prosecution in accordance with the relevant laws of Lagos State noting that the state government remained committed to creating a safe, clean, and orderly environment for all residents and visitors. He urged residents to adhere to state regulations and cooperate with enforcement agencies in upholding the vision of Greater Lagos.
Meanwhile, operatives of the state task force arrested 17 suspects during separate raids carried out in various parts of the state on Thursday.
The spokesperson for the task force, Abdulraheem Gbadeyan, said the operatives also recovered fake naira notes from the suspects.
He said, “In a continued effort to maintain environmental decorum and sanity in the metropolis, the Lagos State Taskforce carried out a strategic raid at Gowon Estate, 31 Road, part of Okunola Road, Wole Omooso, Blessjar, and Idoani, resulting in the arrest of 17 individuals suspected of engaging in various criminal activities.
“During the operation, task force officers uncovered a disturbing cache of illicit substances, including Colorado, Indian hemp, narcotic drugs, and other controlled substances. In addition, counterfeit currency in denominations of N200 and N500 was seized, further underscoring the severity of the criminal activities being perpetuated in the area.
Reacting to the raid, the agency’s chairman, Adetayo Akerele, stressed the agency’s commitment to ridding the state of criminal elements that could pose a threat to the peace and serenity of the citizenry.
Akerele, who spoke through Gbadeyan, noted that the suspects would be prosecuted according to the law.
“This operation reflects our zero-tolerance policy against illegal activities that threaten the peace and security of our communities. The suspects will face the full weight of the law as investigations continue.
“Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to authorities using our ‘See Something, Say Something’ initiative. The operation is the third in the series of activities of the agency to completely stamp out the use of illicit substances and hooliganism in the areas,” Gbadeyan concluded.
