Lagos destroys shanties, arrests 94 suspected criminals

The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has announced the arrest of 94 suspected criminals during a midnight raid along the rail tracks in the Agege area of the state.

He said the raid took place Tuesday night, from Pen-Cinema down to Fagba Junction, in response to complaints from residents, commuters and concerned citizens.

The commissioner, in a post on X, said the corridor harboured the “nefarious activities of illegal squatters, miscreants and suspected criminal elements.”

The raid also led to the destruction of shanties and other illegal structures, most of which were burnt as seen in a video he shared.

“94 suspects were arrested during the midnight operation. A locally fabricated short gun and several wraps of illicit substance suspected to be Indian hemp, charm and a jack knife were recovered. The suspects will be charged to court accordingly,” Wahab said.

A few days ago, a similar raid was carried out by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as KAI, dislodging illegal squatters under the Elegbata bridge in the Apongbon area of the state.

Also, 54 illegal shanties and eight makeshift toilets under the Eko Bridge were destroyed and 84 illegal occupants were dislodged.

The Public Affairs and Advocacy Unit, LAGESC, Ajayi Lukman, said the exercise was part of efforts by the state to reduce environmental nuisances in the metropolis, minimise pollution and improve the overall environmental quality.