The Lagos State Government has reported an attack on officers of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as KAI, by Nigerian Army personnel during a lawful operation in Yaba on Tuesday.

The incident occurred as KAI officers were removing illegal structures erected by army personnel along the perimeter fence of Yaba College of Technology. The structures had remained despite prior notices served by the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, aimed at maintaining a clean and safe environment.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed the incident via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, sharing disturbing details of the attack.

Wahab posted a video showing a KAI officer lying unconscious with a head injury and another operative with a bloodied head following the assault, allegedly carried out by Nigerian Army personnel under the directives of Major Adebiyi and Captain Gowon.

“Earlier today, officers of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI), lawfully engaged in their duties in Yaba, were subjected to an unprovoked attack by personnel of the Nigerian Army,” Wahab’s statement read in part.

The statement said that the swift intervention of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General T. Lagbaja, and the Director of Chaplain Services, Lt. Col. T.E. Ogbonyomi, helped restore order. Their actions reinforced the principle that military personnel must respect civil authority, allowing KAI officers to continue their enforcement duties without further disruption.

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The Lagos State Government reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards environmental violations and stressed its commitment to a cleaner, safer environment for all residents. The Ministry of the Environment emphasized the importance of adhering to regulations to uphold the city’s sanitation and health standards.

Condemning the attack, the Lagos State Government called it “unwarranted and unacceptable.” The government expressed gratitude to the army leadership for their swift intervention and urged all residents, including military personnel, to comply with the state’s environmental laws.

The statement made it clear that aggression against officers carrying out their lawful duties would not be tolerated, as the government remains committed to ensuring a safe and clean environment for all.

[Aa