The Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences has destroyed over 1,700 illegal shanties and containerised shops around the Fagba railway area of Agege.

It was gathered that illegal substances such as Indian hemp, codeine, skunk and tramadol were recovered during the demolition.

The agency had earlier served the owners of the illegal shanties and shops a seven-day removal notice.

The Chairman of the agency, Olayinka Egbeyemi, during the demolition on Saturday, stated that the owners were given additional 21 days to remove them.

He said, “These illegal shanties and containerised shops were occupied by miscreants and hoodlums, who terrorised innocent citizens around Fagba, Iju-Ishaga and Pen Cinema areas, dispossessing them of their valuables, especially early in the day and late at night.

“Investigations conducted revealed that miscreants and hoodlums occupying these illegal shanties were responsible for the destruction of public property and looting of shops immediately after the recent #EndSARS protests around Agege.

“It was an eyesore with miscreants and hoodlums freely smoking and selling Indian hemp and engaging in prostitution by underage boys and girls around Fagba railway line.”

Egbeyemi, who appealed to residents to support the government in rescuing the state from criminals, urged them to report criminal activities around them.