The combing of Ikate Bus Stop, Marwa Bus Stop, Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Obalende Underbridge, Law School Junction, and other adjoining locations along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, by the the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Task Force) has led to the arrest of 33 suspected criminals and recovery of banned substances.

The operation conducted on Monday, July 27, 2026, targeted street urchins, miscreants, suspected drug addicts and peddlers, illegal commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders), street traders, illegal ticket touts, and other criminal elements whose activities pose threats to public safety and environmental order.

At the end of the operation, exhibits such as Tramadol, Colorado, Cannabis sativa as well as dangerous weapons and objects such as scissors and cutlasses, were recovered.

The Agency disclosed that all arrested suspects have been charged before the appropriate court 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 during a debriefing with officers at the agency’s Headquarters, the chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, 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,” he stated.

CSP Akerele further charged officers to sustain the momentum of ongoing enforcement operations, urging them to intensify efforts in tackling criminality across the State, just as the Agency successfully curtailed the menace of illegal Omotaku operations on Lagos roads.

The Lagos State Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven enforcement operations across the State to rid the metropolis of criminal elements and maintain law and order.
Photo and caption: Arrested suspects