Lagos State authorities have arrested 37 individuals, comprising 23 men and 14 women, for allegedly removing official government seals and assaulting enforcement personnel in the Kodesoh area of Ikeja on Thursday.
The arrests followed environmental violations and subsequent confrontations with government officials during routine enforcement exercises, according to a statement from Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
"Twenty-three male and fourteen female persons were arrested on Thursday for breaking the government seal and assaulting Lagos government enforcement agents after committing environmental infractions at Kodesoh, Ikeja. They will all be prosecuted per the provisions of the state's relevant laws," Wahab stated in a post on his official X handle on Friday.
Background of the Incident
The events leading to the arrests reportedly began on Saturday, May 24, around 2 p.m., when operatives of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps were conducting a routine patrol in the area. The officials were sensitising traders against placing goods on walkways and road shoulders while also warning against indiscriminate waste disposal.
During this exercise, some traders allegedly resisted the enforcement actions, attacked a KAI official, and seized his mobile phone. In response, authorities sealed all stalls erected on restricted public spaces.
Despite this enforcement action, the traders reportedly broke the official seals and unlawfully reopened their stalls. This prompted a swift return by officials, who resealed the structures and apprehended those responsible for the violations.
Legal Consequences
The suspects are expected to be charged under Lagos State environmental and public order laws. The government has emphasized that these arrests highlight its zero-tolerance stance on defiance of lawful directives and environmental regulations.
This incident comes as Lagos State continues to intensify efforts to enforce environmental compliance and maintain public order across the metropolis, particularly in commercial areas where violations of space usage regulations are common.
