Video: Lagos arrests 37 traders over environmental violations, assault on enforcement officers
Abdullateef Fowewe
In a decisive enforcement action, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the arrest of 37 individuals—23 men and 14 women—following their involvement in breaking government seals and assaulting enforcement agents at Kodesoh, Ikeja area of Lagos State.
Video link: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMSMv8aqX/
The Commissioner stated, “On Thursday, 23 male and 14 female persons were arrested for breaking government seal and assaulting government enforcement agents after committing environmental infractions at Kodesoh, Ikeja.”
The incident traces back to Saturday at around 2:00 PM when a patrol team from the KAI/LAGESC unit encountered traders displaying wares on walkways and roadsides, alongside indiscriminate refuse dumping.
Upon being advised to remove their goods, some traders resisted, attacked the patrol team, brutalised an enforcement officer, and seized his phone.
Despite initial sealing of all stalls on the walkways and roadside, the traders defiantly removed the seals and resumed trading activities.
However, authorities responded by resealing the stalls and arresting the offenders.
“The arrested persons and others at large had on Saturday at about 1400hrs attacked the patrol team of KAI/LAGESC on patrol after being advised to remove their wares which was displayed on the walkways and roadside and indiscriminate refuse dumping.
“In the process of the patrol operation, some of the traders resisted the directive and also brutalized a KAI officer on lawful duty and also seized his phone.
“All the stalls erected on the walkways and roadside were sealed but in a defiant action, all the government seals were removed and the traders resumed trading.
“The stalls were resealed and the offending traders were arrested,” Wahab had written.
The Commissioner emphasised, “They will all prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws of the state.”
