KAI arrests vendors in Lagos, seizes newspapers

Sourcce: TheNet.ng

AUTHORITIES of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) in Lagos yesterday raided newspaper vendors in some parts of the state including Ipaja, Ikeja, Ojuelegba and Maryland and impounded copies of national dailies. The incident, The Guardian learnt, was alleged to be measures to rid highways, bus stations and terminals of hawkers and traders.

The vendors, who confirmed the incident, said the measure would kill their businesses, as they have to hawk to display the newspapers for readers and buyers to make their choice.

A member of the Newspapers Distributor Agency in the Iyana Ipaja zone, a body comprising of all vendors, Adekingbe Adeleye, said vendors in Iyana Ipaja axis have daily been harassed by KAI officials, as they raid them alongside street traders.

“Even those of us who have stands at bus-stops and under the bridges are not spared. Whenever they come, they confiscate our papers. By the time we are released after bailing ourselves, it would be late in the afternoon when we can no longer make any sales again.

“As a responsible organisation, we have always instructed our members to maintain a safe distance from the road and the walkway. So, we don’t constitute any traffic or environmental nuisance to the public. This is why we are calling on the authorities to appeal to KAI to stop disturbing our members. We are tired of the daily harassment,” he said.

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