Olusegun Ariyo
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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has arrested six suspected members of a notorious “one-chance” robbery syndicate believed to be operating under the Ijora Bridge corridor in Lagos.According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the operation was conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police, Lagos State Task Force, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, and the Nigerian Army.The arrests, carried out on Thursday, October 23, 2025, were part of a joint enforcement operation aimed at clearing illegal garages, makeshift shanties, and criminal hideouts along Apapa Road, Costain, and Ijora under-bridge.The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said the coordinated exercise demonstrates the government’s zero-tolerance stance on environmental violations and the unlawful occupation of public spaces.“This operation is part of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s integrated effort to make Lagos safer, cleaner, and more habitable. Criminal elements and illegal occupants still operating beneath bridges and in unauthorised spaces are hereby warned to vacate immediately,” Giwa stated.During the operation, enforcement teams recovered 77 mobile phones, two POS machines, several wristwatches, and other personal items believed to have been stolen from unsuspecting commuters and pedestrians. Authorities also confiscated multiple kegs of adulterated diesel and over 150 packs of expired plantain chips and cheese balls.Giwa revealed that the Ijora under-bridge area had become a hub for criminal activities. “The location had evolved into a storage centre for stolen items and contraband. Today’s cleanup has successfully dismantled those hideouts and restored sanity to the corridor,” he said.In addition to the arrests, more than 120 illegal shanties were demolished, including structures located around St. Peter’s Catholic Nursery and Primary School on Apapa Road.“By reclaiming these public spaces, we are reinforcing urban discipline and ensuring that vital infrastructure is not converted into criminal shelters,” Giwa added.The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, lauded the collaboration among security and enforcement agencies, describing it as a model of effective inter-agency synergy.“LASTMA’s responsibility extends beyond traffic management. It includes ensuring public safety, protecting transport corridors, and preventing criminal encroachments on public infrastructure,” Bakare-Oki stated.He urged Lagos residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to relevant authorities.The six suspects, Adetunji Bashiru (28), Sulaiman Kada (35), Abubakar Bala (42), Abubakar Ahmed (28), Rasaq Gbadamosi (21), and Ibrahim Yakub (23), have been handed over to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
