22 Miscreants Arrested As Task Force Demolishes 45 Shanties

Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offence Unit yesterday demolished about 45 shanties at Iba, Lagos State University (LASU) Roundabout. It also arrested 22 miscreants for allegedly robbing members of the public of their valuables around Iba and LASU Road area.

The task force had a few days ago served necessary demolition notices for those traders who occupied the shanties to remove their goods.

It was learnt that some residents were jubilating during the demolition exercise. They said the demolished areas were used as hideouts by the criminals. They claimed that the criminals usually break into their houses, steal their valuables and even rape their women and daughters. A resident, Joseph Akpan, said he was robbed of his money and mobile phone at the roundabout on Wednesday around 10pm.

According to him, he closes late from office daily. After the demolition exercise, officials of the task force also cleared LASU-Iba Road, which had been experiencing gridlock, of those patronising the illegal traders.

The task force, however, warned members of the public, who erect illegal shanties on road setbacks, walkways, drainages, canal setbacks, etc, to remove them immediately as government would no longer condone illegalities. “Removal of all these illegal shanties by is very crucial to curtail flood as the raining season is fast approaching,” an official of the task force, who pleaded anonymity, said.