The operatives of Lagos  state environmental and special offences unit ( taskforce) raided all the streets within central Business district including surroundings of ‘African shrine ‘Alausa ikeja. The operatives responded  to several complaints from residents  about the criminal  activities of miscreants  and environmental nuisance of illegal street traders.

The chairman of the agency CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi disclosed that 28 miscreants and 15 illegal street  traders were arrested  at various locations around Alausa, hunting that the raid was also initiated  due to nefarious acts within the vicinity of African  shrine which also presented a negative impression to tourists  and lagosians.

Egbeyemi in a statement by the Head of Public Affairs unit, Adebayo  Taofiq, on Sunday  commented that the enforcement  operations became  imperative  following  complaints  from members of the public  about the criminal activities of miscreants and environmental nuisance of illegal street traders around the shrine

According to the chairman taskforce, “The night enforcement operation was carried out on all roads around African shrine  where sales of hard drugs like Tramadol, codeine, skunk, weed,illegal mixed liquor, assorted food  and all sorts of consumable items are freely sold on the streets in defiance of security agencies  and government  authority ”

“The Lagos state Government  has vowed  to sustain the security onslaught on all areas identified as criminal hideouts and hard drugs  outlets across the states, especially within the metropolis”, stated by Egbeyemi .

The chairman assured that the enforcement operations will be a continuous exercise in line with the vision  of the present  administration  to rid the entire state of street urchins and criminals.

One of the arrested miscreants named (Tunde Babalola) who was caught  with a bag of substance suspected to be Indian hemp confirmed  that he has been selling  hard drugs  for eight years  now, particularly around” African shrine ” ikeja. He confirmed  that hard drugs  is a lucrative  business,  he said he realised an an average profits of #600 and #100 weekly from  customers  along Obalende, Akala, Mushin, Bariga  ikeja area.

Another miscreant, who identified herself as Mrs Abike Adeyemi  also disclosed that she paid  #1,900 every week to a representative  of ikeja local government from the sales of ‘skuchies’, and ‘hot drinks’ around  the ‘African Shrine’

CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, the Lagos taskforce chairman has confirmed that the Lagos state Commissioner of Police,  CP Zubairu Muazu has directed all those arrested  be immediately  prosecuted.