Thirty-three suspected miscreants, drug addicts and other criminal elements were arrested on Monday as the Lagos State Taskforce intensified its enforcement operations across crime-prone areas of the metropolis, recovering suspected illicit drugs and dangerous weapons.
The early morning operation targeted street urchins, suspected drug addicts and peddlers, illegal commercial motorcyclists (okada riders), street traders, ticket touts and other individuals whose activities pose a threat to public safety and environmental order.
The enforcement exercise covered Ikate Bus Stop, Marwa Bus Stop, Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Obalende Underbridge, Law School Junction and other adjoining areas along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, where the presence of suspected criminal elements had become a growing concern.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said the operation was conducted in line with the agency’s statutory mandate and the Lagos State Government’s THEMES Plus Agenda, particularly its zero-tolerance policy on environmental degradation, drug abuse and criminality.
According to Abdulraheem, operatives arrested 33 suspects during the raid and recovered several exhibits, including substances suspected to be Tramadol, Indian hemp, Colorado, marijuana and cannabis, as well as dangerous weapons such as cutlasses and scissors.
He said the operation restored normalcy to the affected areas, adding that all the suspects had been charged before the appropriate courts 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.
Speaking after the operation, the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, reiterated the agency’s 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,” Abdulraheem quoted Akerele as saying.
Akerele also charged officers to sustain the momentum of the ongoing enforcement operations and intensify efforts to tackle criminality across the state.
According to Abdulraheem, the Taskforce Chairman commended the officers for their dedication and urged them to build on the gains already recorded, including the successful clampdown on illegal commercial motorcycle operations across Lagos.
“Our resolve is unwavering. We will continue to sustain intelligence-driven enforcement operations across the state to rid the metropolis of criminal elements, restore public order and ensure that Lagos remains safe for residents and businesses,” Abdulraheem quoted Akerele as saying.
He reaffirmed the Lagos State Taskforce’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven enforcement operations and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to rid the metropolis of criminal elements, enforce environmental laws and maintain law and order across the state.
