NO fewer than 839 persons are currently in the police net awaiting trial for various environment-related offences in Lagos State.
 
The Chairman of the State Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Agency (Task Force), Olubukola Abe, who disclosed this at the weekend, said that the persons were some of the 4449 suspects arrested for various offences in 2015 alone.
 
Their offences, according to Abe, ranged from street-hawking, street -trading, riding of motorcycles on prohibited routes to street-urchins and hoodlums, all of which were prohibited by the law.
 
The police boss said the 839 suspects would soon be tried in a special offences court.
 
He said the ongoing arrests and subsequent trial that has since resumed in August 2015, were part of efforts to rid the State of environmental-related crimes and fully restore sanity in Lagos metropolis.
 
Of the 4,449 suspects arrested, 3,178 among them have been convicted and 376 persons discharged. Among the suspects are 60 underage persons.
 
Also, 4,430 motorcycles were impounded and confiscated while 201 vehicles that contravened traffic laws were arrested and issued offence tickets accordingly.
 
Abe added that routine and regular enforcement of environmental laws against street-trading, hawking were carried out with major concentration in Oshodi where the agency participated actively in the continuation of restoration of sanity in Oshodi by continuous dislodging street traders, demolition of shanties and illegal structures, removal of prohibited of illegal bus stops, motor parks and abuse of open spaces.
 
Other areas where the agency massively carried out operations include Ojodu Berger, Ikeja, Ajah, Victoria Island, Mile 12, Orile, Ojota, Abule Egba.
 
On new Mile 12 to Ikorodu BRT route, the agency equally dislodged traders who obstruct smooth operation of the BRT buses from plying the designated tracks while street mechanics and artisans were removed from roads and in un-authorised spaces.