Lagos task force arrests 50 miscreants during sanitation

The Lagos State Taskforce has arrested over 50 suspected miscreants and street urchins along the Lekki–Epe Expressway for allegedly disturbing public peace and attempting to exploit the environmental sanitation restriction period to perpetrate criminal activities.

The agency’s spokesperson, Raheem Gbadeyan, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to him, the suspects were also said to have been linked to acts posing threats to public infrastructure, including vandalism of billboards and road signage.

Gbadeyan stated that the arrests formed part of a statewide enforcement exercise carried out during the monthly environmental sanitation operation across Lagos State.

He also noted that the operation, which commenced in the early hours of the day, was led by the agency’s Chairman, Adetayo Akerele, in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Law of 2017.

“Taskforce operatives arrested over 50 suspected miscreants and street urchins along the Lekki-Epe Expressway for disturbing public peace and attempting to exploit the restriction period to perpetrate criminal activities. Some of the suspects were also implicated in acts posing threats to public infrastructure, including billboards and road signage.”

He added that all suspects will be charged in court accordingly.

The statement further stated that enforcement teams were deployed to several hotspots across the state to ensure compliance with sanitation regulations and curb environmental infractions.

“Areas visited during the monitoring exercise included Ikeja, Iyana-Ipaja, Abule-Egba, the Abattoir in Agege, Iyana-Oworo, Lagos Island, the Lekki–Ajah Expressway, Ijora Causeway, Ijora Underbridge, Iddo, and other parts of the state.

“While there was notable compliance in terms of restricted vehicular movement and commercial activities, the chairman observed that some residents failed to participate in the sanitation exercise actively.

“At Ile-Epo, the chairman commended transport union members for taking responsibility in cleaning their surroundings, motor parks, and garages, encouraging sustained participation,” the statement added.

Gbadeyan added that the task force chairman also addressed youths in the area, warning against playing street football during sanitation hours and encouraging them to take responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in their communities.

The monthly environmental sanitation exercise, according to the task force, is part of the Lagos State Government’s efforts to eliminate indiscriminate waste disposal, open defecation, street trading, and other environmental nuisances.

The agency reaffirmed that violators of environmental laws would be prosecuted, stressing that sustained enforcement and citizen cooperation remain key to achieving a cleaner and safer Lagos.