In a coordinated environmental sanitation and security operation, the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Taskforce has arrested 84 individuals, including 82 men and 2 women, described by authorities as “undesirable elements,” during a clean-up sweep in the Agege area of the state.
The raid, which took place in the early hours of Thursday, was part of an intensified effort to reclaim public spaces and address rising concerns over environmental degradation, illegal street trading, and criminal activity in densely populated parts of Lagos.
According to Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the joint operation involved officers of the Lagos Taskforce, Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), and uniformed environmental marshals. The team moved in at dawn and conducted sweeps across several identified black spots in Agege, including Isale-Oja, Abattoir axis, and Pen Cinema under-bridge.
“These individuals were caught loitering in unsafe conditions, operating illegal businesses, or occupying public spaces unlawfully,” Wahab said. “Some were also found with dangerous weapons and suspected drugs.”
Wahab confirmed that all 84 suspects will be arraigned in court after preliminary profiling by law enforcement agencies.
“Lagos cannot be a haven for criminality under the guise of street trading or homelessness,” he stated. “We are committed to enforcing environmental discipline and protecting lives and property.”
He added that the operation is part of a state-wide exercise that will soon extend to other high-risk areas such as Oshodi, Mushin, and Ajegunle.
While some residents praised the operation for helping restore order to Agege’s often-chaotic streets, others raised concerns about the treatment of street dwellers and low-income workers.
“We need a clean city, yes, but people need alternative shelter and proper rehabilitation,” said community activist Mariam Alaka. “Just locking people up isn’t a long-term solution.”
Human rights groups have called for transparency in the judicial process, urging the state to distinguish between petty offenders and vulnerable citizens in need of social welfare.
“We urge the Lagos State Government to ensure no rights are violated under the cover of environmental enforcement,” said Abiodun Jegede of the Lagos Legal Aid Group.
The raid is part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s wider Lagos Urban Renewal Plan, which includes slum clearance, transport reform, and zero tolerance for street-level insecurity. Similar clean-up exercises in the past have targeted under-bridge settlements, unlicensed markets, and makeshift motor parks.
As Lagos continues to grapple with rapid urban growth and rising insecurity, the tension between public order and social justice remains a key policy debate.
For now, the government says the message is clear: lawlessness and environmental abuse will no longer be tolerated regardless of location or status.
