Lagos Taskforce storms Island, nabs 44 suspects in crime crackdown

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Environmental Taskforce has launched a major clean-up operation across key areas of Lagos Island, targeting criminal elements that have been plaguing the city.

The operation took place in the early hours of Thursday, May 1, 2025.

The operation, which began at around 2 a.m., saw the taskforce team swept through notorious hotspots including Falomo Bridge, Oyin Jolayemi, the Eko Hotel Roundabout, Ligali Ayorinde, Oniru Beach, and the 1004 Estate area.

The crack team’s efforts resulted in the arrest of 44 suspects, including 43 men and one woman, known to be involved in various illicit activities that have disrupted the peace of these communities.

According to Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, the raid was part of a larger strategy to rid Lagos of criminal elements that threaten the safety and security of its residents.

Wahab, in a statement posted on social media, confirmed that the taskforce’s operation successfully restored peace in these areas, emphasizing the state’s zero-tolerance approach to crime.

“In continuation of the agency’s clean-up enforcement operation to rid the State of criminal elements, we were able to neutralize threats in these locations and ensure public safety,” he stated.

He said all arrested individuals are expected to face legal proceedings, as the state’s law enforcement ramped up efforts to tackle the rising criminal activities that have made certain parts of Lagos uninhabitable for law-abiding citizens.

The taskforce also reiterated its commitment to maintaining a cleaner, safer environment for Lagosians.

“Sanity has been restored in these areas, and we will continue to ensure that criminal activities have no place in Lagos,” Wahab said.

The operation reflects the Lagos government’s commitment to keeping the state free from criminal elements and upholding the law, reinforcing their slogan: #ZeroToleranceLagos and #CleanerLagos.