By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, popularly known as Taskforce, has intensified enforcement operations across the metropolis in line with the THEMES Plus Agenda of the Lagos State Government.
The early morning operation conducted on Monday, 27 July 2026, targeted street urchins, miscreants, suspected drug addicts and peddlers, illegal commercial motorcyclists, street traders, illegal ticket touts, and other elements posing threats to public safety and environmental order.
Areas covered included Ikate Bus Stop, Marwa Bus Stop, Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Obalende Underbridge, Law School Junction, and adjoining locations along the Lekki-Epe Expressway where the presence of suspected criminal elements had become noticeable.
At the end of the exercise, 33 suspects were arrested. Items recovered include substances suspected to be Tramadol, Indian hemp, Colorado, marijuana, cannabis, as well as dangerous weapons such as scissors and cutlasses.
The Agency said the operation successfully restored normalcy to all affected areas. All arrested suspects have been charged before the appropriate court in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, and the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, where applicable.
Speaking during a debriefing at the Agency’s Headquarters, CSP Adetayo Akerele, Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, reiterated the agency’s resolve to make Lagos uninhabitable for criminal elements.
“There is no room for criminality in Lagos State. Those engaged in criminal activities should either desist or relocate. We remain committed to enforcing the laws of the State and ensuring that residents continue to enjoy a safe, secure, and orderly environment,” he stated.
CSP Akerele also charged officers to sustain the momentum of ongoing enforcement operations, and to intensify efforts in tackling criminality across the State, just as the Agency successfully curtailed the menace of illegal Omotaku operations on Lagos roads.
The Lagos State Taskforce reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven enforcement operations to rid the metropolis of criminal elements and maintain law and order.
