The Lagos State Government has arrested 37 individuals—comprising 23 males and 14 females—for allegedly breaking government seals and assaulting enforcement officers during an environmental compliance operation in Ikeja.

 

The arrests, which took place on Thursday, followed a series of environmental infractions committed by the suspects at Kodesoh Street in the Ikeja area.

 

Confirming the development via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that the government is committed to upholding the rule of law and will prosecute all offenders.

 

“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 in accordance with the state’s relevant laws,” Wahab wrote.

 

According to reports, the confrontation began on Saturday, May 24, at around 2:00 p.m., when a joint patrol team from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) was advising traders to vacate walkways and roadsides and to stop indiscriminate refuse dumping.

 

During the exercise, some traders reportedly resisted, assaulted an enforcement officer, and forcibly took his phone. In response, the authorities sealed all unauthorized stalls erected on the walkways and roadside.

 

However, the government’s seal was later removed by the traders, who defiantly resumed their illegal activities. This led to a swift response by the enforcement team, who resealed the stalls and arrested the offending individuals.

 

The suspects will face prosecution under the environmental and public order laws of Lagos State.

 

The government reiterated its commitment to maintaining environmental discipline and law enforcement, warning that acts of defiance and violence against public officials will not be tolerated.