Lagos task force arrests 33 suspected criminals
July 28, 2026 12:43 am
File photo: Lagos State Map
By Dayo Oyewo
The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit has arrested 33 suspected criminals and recovered illicit drugs and dangerous weapons during a coordinated raid across parts of Lagos Island and the Lekki corridor.
The suspects, comprising alleged street urchins, drug peddlers, suspected drug addicts, illegal commercial motorcyclists, ticket touts and other miscreants, were apprehended during an early morning operation on Monday.
The spokesperson for the agency, Raheem Gbedeyan, in a statement on Monday, stated that recovered exhibits included substances suspected to be Tramadol, Indian hemp, Colorado, marijuana and cannabis, as well as cutlasses and scissors.
He added that the operation was part of the state’s ongoing campaign against environmental offences, drug abuse and criminal activities.
The statement read, “The early morning operation, conducted on Monday, July 27, 2026, targeted street urchins, miscreants, suspected drug addicts and peddlers, illegal commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders), street traders, illegal ticket touts, and other criminal elements whose activities pose threats to public safety and environmental order.
“Areas covered during the exercise included Ikate Bus Stop, Marwa Bus Stop, Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Obalende Underbridge, Law School Junction, and other adjoining locations along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, where the presence of suspected criminal elements had become noticeable.
“At the end of the operation, a total of 33 suspects were arrested, while several exhibits were recovered. Items seized include substances suspected to be Tramadol, Indian hemp, Colorado, marijuana, and cannabis, as well as dangerous weapons and objects such as scissors and cutlasses.”
The statement added that all the suspects had been charged before the appropriate courts under the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, and the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, where applicable.
Speaking after the operation, the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, said the agency would not relent in its crackdown on criminal elements across the state.
He warned that the agency would continue intelligence-driven raids to flush out hoodlums and restore public order.
“Our mandate is clear. We will continue to comb every part of the metropolis to rid Lagos of criminal elements. Anyone whose activities threaten public peace, environmental sanity or the safety of residents will be arrested and made to face the law,” he stated.
Akerele urged officers of the task force to sustain the momentum of the enforcement operations and intensify efforts to tackle crime across the state.
The chairman reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intelligence-led enforcement, saying the task force would continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to make Lagos uninhabitable for criminal elements.
“We will remain proactive in our operations. Our objective is to ensure that law-abiding residents can go about their daily activities without fear while those who choose to violate the law are brought to justice,” Akerele added.
Dayo is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over nine years of experience covering politics, entertainment, crime, and environmental conservation. His reporting blends advocacy and accountability journalism, focusing on stories that inspire awareness and social change. Dayo’s work reflects practical newsroom experience and a strong commitment to public-interest reporting.
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