Lagos Arrests 46 Suspected Criminals During Clean Up Operation

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit has apprehended 46 suspected criminals during a coordinated enforcement operation across parts of Lagos Island, Victoria Island and the Lekki corridor.

The arrests followed a clean-up exercise carried out on Thursday, which the agency said was aimed at tackling criminal activities and restoring order in identified flashpoints across the state.

According to Daily Gazette, the agency’s spokesperson, Abdulraheem Gbadeyan, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, noting that the operation commenced at about 9 a.m. and covered Muri-Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Obalende Underbridge, Law School Junction, Maroko, Sandfill by Mobil Bus Stop and Marwa Bus Stop.

According to Gbadeyan, the exercise forms part of the state government’s sustained campaign against street urchins, miscreants, drug addicts and other criminal elements operating in public spaces.

READ ALSO: Lagos Building Insurance Scheme Will Protect Disaster Victims – NAICOM Boss Omosehin

He explained that the operation also targeted peddlers, illegal commercial motorcyclists, street traders and ticket touts operating unlawfully.

“The operation led to the arrest of 46 suspects, while exhibits recovered included substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Colorado and cannabis,” he said.

The spokesperson added that enforcement officers also recovered a cutlass and a locally fabricated Dane gun during the operation.

He said security personnel restored normalcy in all the locations visited after clearing the areas of suspected criminal elements.

Gbadeyan said the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, CSP Adetayo Akerele, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining enforcement operations across the state to improve public safety.

According to him, Akerele stressed that criminal elements would not be allowed to operate freely in Lagos.

“Enforcement operations would be sustained across the state to ensure public safety and orderliness.”

He added that all the suspects would be prosecuted in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, as well as the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.