Tension flared along the Fagba Railway Corridor in Lagos on Thursday as suspected miscreants and street urchins allegedly set parts of the area ablaze in a desperate attempt to resist arrest during a major clean-up enforcement by the Lagos State Taskforce.
The Agency said the operation, which targeted criminal hideouts and illegal settlements, was part of its sustained efforts to restore order and rid the state of criminal elements.
Director of Public Affairs of the Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, disclosed that the railway corridor had become a hub for various criminal activities, necessitating urgent intervention.
“In continuation of its ongoing clean-up enforcement operations to rid Lagos State of criminal elements, the Lagos State Taskforce recorded a major incident at the Fagba Railway Corridor, where suspected miscreants and street urchins set parts of the corridor ablaze in a desperate attempt to resist arrest and evade law enforcement,” he said.
The agency identified those involved as including street urchins, suspected sex workers, and other criminal elements popularly referred to as “Boller Boys.”
According to Abdulraheem, the corridor had long been under surveillance following reports of serious crimes ranging from robbery to drug trafficking.
“The railway corridor had increasingly become a haven for criminal activities, including robbery, rape, cultism, drug peddling, illegal brothels parading teenagers as strippers, and the stoning of moving trains and their passengers,” he stated.
He explained that the Taskforce launched a targeted raid in response to these concerns, with enforcement teams moving into key locations across the Agege axis in the early hours of the day.
“The operation, which commenced in the early hours, was coordinated by the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, as part of the Taskforce’s zero-tolerance stance on criminality,” Abdulraheem said.
“Areas covered included Alfa Nla, Okekoto, Pen Cinema, and the Fagba Railway Corridor.”
The situation escalated when operatives encountered resistance at Fagba, with suspects allegedly resorting to arson.
“During the operation at Fagba, officers encountered pockets of resistance from miscreants, who escalated the situation by setting parts of the railway corridor on fire,” he added.
The fire, he noted, posed a threat to nearby infrastructure, including a filling station and a commercial bank branch in the vicinity.
“The unrest also posed threats to nearby facilities, including Sunbeth Filling Station and a Zenith Bank branch,” Abdulraheem said.
Despite the chaos, operatives succeeded in restoring control, with support from emergency responders.
“The situation was eventually brought under control through the swift intervention of Taskforce operatives, supported by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, whose efforts helped to contain the fire and restore normalcy,” he stated.
The Agency confirmed that several suspects were arrested in connection with the incident and would be prosecuted in line with existing laws.
“All arrested suspects will be charged to court in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017,” he said.
Reacting to the development, Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, warned youths against engaging in criminal activities, urging them to pursue legitimate means of livelihood.
“Crime is not a career,” Akerele admonished, calling on young people to shun unlawful acts and embrace productive ventures.
The Taskforce noted that the latest raid marks the third clean-up operation carried out in the area this year, underscoring its resolve to dismantle criminal enclaves across the state.
“This clean-up enforcement marks the third in a series of operations conducted in the area this year, reaffirming the Agency’s commitment to sustaining public safety and eliminating criminal hideouts,” Abdulraheem said.
Residents have been urged to support ongoing efforts by providing credible information that will aid law enforcement in tackling crime.
