Fourteen persons arrested for allegedly attacking officials of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI) and vandalising an official vehicle during an enforcement operation at the Oshodi Resettlement Market have been convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment each by a Magistrate’s Court in Oshodi.
The defendants were arraigned before the Magistrate’s Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, on Wednesday, a day after their arrest during an incident that led to the closure of the Oshodi Resettlement Market by Lagos State authorities.
According to a facebook post by the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Adekunle Adeshina, the suspects were charged for assaulting KAI personnel and damaging an official vehicle while the officers were carrying out their lawful duties.
Adeshina said all 14 defendants pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them during the court proceedings.
“The defendants were arraigned before the Magistrate’s Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi, on Wednesday. They all pleaded guilty and were consequently convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment each,” the post said.
The convicted persons were identified as Zaradeen Sheu, Abdullahi Bello, Saheed Oladele, Dan Halima Umar, Nofiu Ibrahim, Abubakar Sari, Alfred Magnus, Sanni Adamu, Umar Sabi, Dayabu Danmar, Seidu Adam, Isa Muhammed, Yakubu Umar and Abubakar Muktari.
The convictions followed an enforcement operation at the Oshodi Resettlement Market, during which officials of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps were allegedly attacked by a group of individuals. An official vehicle belonging to the agency was also reportedly damaged during the incident.
The confrontation prompted the Lagos State Government to shut the market pending further security and environmental assessments.
While reaffirming the state’s commitment to enforcing environmental and sanitation laws, the Ministry stressed that attacks on enforcement officers and destruction of government property would not be tolerated.
The government also urged residents and traders to cooperate with enforcement agencies and resolve grievances through lawful channels rather than resorting to violence or obstruction of public officials in the discharge of their duties.
The case is one of the latest efforts by the state government to strengthen compliance with environmental regulations and protect personnel involved in enforcement operations across Lagos.
