Johnson Idowu and David Okoro
The Lagos State Task Force said its officials arrested 124 suspects during multiple raids of criminal hideouts across the state as part of its efforts to restore sanity across the state.
The raid, according to a statement made available to journalists on Sunday by the Director of Press and Public Affairs of the agency, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, was carried out on Saturday midnight and was led by the agency’s chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele.
Abdulraheem noted that the raided spots which were notorious for drug peddling, hooliganism, and street trading among others included Aminkanle market and NerdC Street by African Shrine in the Agidingbi area of Ikeja, Lagos State.
He added that the arrested suspects were screened and those with genuine businesses were released while others who appeared suspicious would be made to face trial.
He stated, “In the interest of environmental serenity, safety, sanity and maintenance of Lagos State’s Mega City status, the Lagos State Task Force has raided several notorious black spots known for illegal drug peddling, hooliganism, miscreants, street trading around Aminkanle Market, and NerdC Street by African Shrine in the Agidingbi area of Ikeja which had been converted to a trading pavilion on hard drug, restaurants, beer parlour on the road thereby causing serious human and vehicular traffic obstructions and serious environmental nuisance.
“Consequently, a total of 124 suspects arrested were carefully screened and those with genuine business were allowed to go while others will be charged to court.”
According to the spokesperson, Akerele, while reacting to the exercise, noted that it would be a continuous effort to rid the state of criminal elements.
Akerele was quoted thus, “The activities of these suspected criminals at Aminkanle area of Agbado, Jobi Fele Road by African Shrine and NerdC Street, especially at night are dangerous to humanity at all levels.
“They sell drugs indiscriminately which is counter-productive to society and they also contribute immensely to traffic build-up on adjoining roads at night when workers who have spent all day at work still have to spend hours to get home. It is unfair to residents of this area and we will ensure that it is completely stamped out.”
The chairman however, urged the public to provide the agency with useful information about black spots in the state in the interest of the public.
“He urged residents who have useful tips concerning black spots, illicit trading on hard drugs, or any other useful information on environmental infractions to contact the agency through the social media handles or come forth with them to the headquarters at Bolade,” the statement conclude
This medium gathered that on July 16 that motorists in Lagos State were thrown into a panicky mood over fears of enforcement of the ban on commercial yellow vehicles popularly called Danfo and Korope after some officials of the Lagos Task Force seized some commercial vehicles in the Ikeja area of the state.
While reacting to the concern of the motorists, the agency said the exercise was a routine activity to curb the excesses of commercial drivers causing traffic on Lagos roads.
Our correspondent, who monitored activities around the Ikeja Under Bridge area, had observed that the task force officials dislodged traders who were trading close to the bus stop while vehicles alleged to be obstructing traffic were seized.
The operation however led to a scarcity of vehicles in the area, leaving commuters stranded.
