Five persons were on Thursday arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Oshodi for allegedly dumping refuse into a canal along the Igando-Iba Road Link Bridge in Lagos.

The court ordered their remand at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the next hearing, scheduled for July 9.

The defendants, Quassim Jamiu, and Ayo Jamiu, both from Kwara State, Alexander Innocent from Akwa Ibom, Oparinde Taiwo from Ogun State, and Moses Adelowokan from Osun State, were arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps in collaboration with security personnel.

Authorities said the suspects were apprehended while attempting to dump a large quantity of waste into the canal using a lorry.

The arrest follows a recent enforcement drive by the Lagos State Government aimed at curbing violations of the state’s environmental regulations.

This incident comes just 48 hours after the government issued a stern warning to residents and businesses against illegal refuse disposal.

Speaking on the arrest, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab reiterated the resolve of the state government to come down hard on all those who engage in indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

He said the State Government would ensure diligent prosecution of all the arrested people to serve as a deterrence to all those with similar intentions.