Eric Patrick
Authorities on Thursday arrested 37 people, 23 males and 14 females, in the Kodesoh area of Ikeja, Lagos State.
They were arrested for breaking government seals placed due to environmental violations and assaulting enforcement officers during the incident.
The Commissioner, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made this known in a statement on Friday.
According to Wahab, the suspects along with others still at large, had attacked a patrol team from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI/LAGESC).
The team had advised street traders to remove their wares displayed on walkways and roadsides and to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse. During the operation, some traders resisted the directive, assaulted a KAI officer, and forcibly seized his phone.
In response, all stalls erected on the walkways and roadside were sealed.
The statement read, “23 male and 14 female persons were on Thursday arrested for breaking government seal and assaulting government enforcement agents after committing environmental infractions at Kodesoh, Ikeja.
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“The arrested persons and others at large had on Saturday at about 1400hrs attacked the patrol team of KAI/LAGESC on patrol after being advised to remove their wares which was displayed on the walkways and roadside and indiscriminate refuse dumping.
“In the process of the patrol operation, some of the traders resisted the directive and also brutalized a KAI officer on lawful duty and also seized his phone.
“All the stalls erected on the walkways and roadside were sealed, but in a defiant action, all the government seals were removed, and the traders resumed trading.
“The stalls were resealed and the offending traders were arrested.
“They will all be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws of the state.”