The Lagos State Taskforce has dismissed a viral social media report alleging that a police officer attached to the Agency was caught stealing while on duty, describing the claim as completely false and deliberately misleading.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs of the Lagos State Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said the officer was part of the Taskforce Environmental Services Unit supported by police operatives when the team came under a violent mob attack during a routine enforcement operation on Brown Street, Oshodi, at about 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
Abdulraheem explained that the operation involved clearing goods and wares displayed on the road, removing vehicles causing obstruction, towing cars parked in tow-away zones, and ensuring walkways were free for pedestrians, an exercise he described as especially critical during the yuletide season.
He said the violence erupted when street traders, area boys, and illegal ticket collectors exploited the tension created by their own lawlessness to launch an unprovoked assault on Taskforce operatives.
“In the process, they attempted to seize a service rifle from the team and inflicted grievous injuries on one of our operatives,” Abdulraheem said.
He added that the officers applied minimal force to disperse the attackers and restore order. Four principal suspects, Dele Oriade (39), Adekunle Olalere (40), Mudashiru Olamilekan (28), and Anayo Achusie (34), were arrested at the scene and will be prosecuted. Several others who fled are still being tracked
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Abdulraheem urged the public to disregard the misleading narrative circulating online, stressing that it was “a calculated attempt by mischief makers to cover up a criminal and potentially fatal assault on State operatives performing their lawful duties.”
He reaffirmed that the Taskforce remains committed to enforcing environmental and traffic regulations across Lagos State and “will not be deterred by acts of lawlessness orchestrated to obstruct legitimate government operations.”
The Agency has forwarded the incident report to the Lagos State Police Command for further investigation.
Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Moshood Jimoh, assured residents of strengthened visible and covert security arrangements across the state. He warned that criminality in any form, as well as actions that undermine law and order, will attract immediate and appropriate sanctions
