The Lagos State Government has arrested 37 traders—23 men and 14 women—for breaking government seals and assaulting enforcement officers after committing environmental violations in the Kodesoh area of Ikeja.
The arrests were confirmed on Friday by the Commissioner for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
According to the commissioner, the traders had attacked the patrol team of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI)/Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) on Saturday around 2:00 pm. The officers advised the traders to remove their wares from walkways and roadsides and to stop indiscriminate refuse dumping.
In the course of the operation, some of the traders not only resisted the directive but also assaulted a KAI officer and seized his phone.
Although the enforcement team had sealed the stalls on the walkways and roadsides, the traders forcibly removed the government seals and resumed their trading activities.
The patrol team resealed the stalls, and the offending traders were subsequently arrested. They are to be prosecuted in line with relevant state laws.
“23 male and 14 female persons were on Thursday arrested for breaking government seal and assaulting Lagos government enforcement agents after committing environmental infractions at Kodesoh, Ikeja,” Wahab said.
“They will all prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws of the state.”
Earlier on Friday, at about 1:30 am, the Lagos State Environmental Taskforce also embarked on an ongoing clean-up enforcement operation on the Island.
During the raid exercise, a total of 56 male suspects were arrested, according to Wahab.
The areas visited included Falomo Bridge, Four Points area, First Gate, Muri Okunola Park, the Law School area, and other adjoining streets where the “presence of some undesirable elements was noticed”.
Authorities reported finding narcotic substances suspected to be Indian hemp, illicit drugs, and dangerous objects like scissors on the suspects.
Wahab said that all arrested individuals will be charged in court accordingly.
