Lagos Goes After Street Traders, Illegal Ticket Touts, Drug Peddlers, Others

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit is making the metropolis difficult for criminal elements, as part of its zero-tolerance stance against environmental degradation, drug abuse, and criminality.

On Monday, the Lagos Taskforce intensified its routine enforcement operations across the aquatic state, arresting some street urchins, miscreants, suspected drug addicts and peddlers, illegal commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders), street traders, illegal ticket touts, and others.

These persons were apprehended by officials of the units at Ikate Bus Stop, Marwa Bus Stop, Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Obalende Underbridge, Law School Junction, and other adjoining locations along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, where the presence of suspected criminals had become noticeable.

Items seized from 33 suspects arrested included substances believed to be Tramadol, Indian hemp, Colorado, marijuana, cannabis, as well as dangerous weapons and objects such as scissors and cutlasses.

In a statement, the Director of Public Affairs for the Lagos State Taskforce, Mr Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said the chairman of the agency, Mr Adetayo Akerele, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), reiterated the unwavering resolve to make Lagos uninhabitable for criminal elements.

“There is no room for criminality in Lagos State. Those engaged in criminal activities should either desist or relocate. We remain committed to enforcing the laws of the State and ensuring that residents continue to enjoy a safe, secure, and orderly environment,” he stated.

Mr Akerele further charged officers to sustain the momentum of ongoing enforcement operations, urging them to intensify efforts in tackling criminality across the state, just as the organisation drastically reduced the menace of illegal Omotaku operations on Lagos roads.

Business Post gathered that all arrested suspects have been charged before the appropriate court in accordance with the provisions of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017 and the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, where applicable.