The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA,has arrested six suspected members of a notorious “one-chance” syndicate believed to have been terrorising commuters around the Ijora Bridge corridor in Lagos.
The arrest took place on Thursday, October 23, during a joint inter-agency enforcement operation aimed at dismantling illegal garages, removing shanties, and clearing criminal hideouts across Apapa Road, Costain, and the Ijora underbridge area.
In a statement released on Friday, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, confirmed the arrests and detailed the large number of items recovered from the suspects.
“The confiscated items include 77 assorted mobile phones, two Point of Sales machines, multiple wristwatches, and other personal effects believed to have been forcibly taken from unsuspecting commuters and pedestrians,” Giwa stated.
He added that the operation was part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s broader campaign to eliminate criminal enclaves and ensure public safety in transport corridors across the state.
Giwa led the joint operation, which included personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police, Lagos State Task Force, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps and the Nigerian Army.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Ijora underbridge area had long served as a criminal hotspot, sheltering miscreants, illegal traders, and “one-chance” operators who specialise in ambushing commuters and stealing valuables.
“The area had evolved into a storage hub for stolen goods and contraband,” Giwa noted, adding that several kegs of adulterated diesel and over 150 packs of expired plantain chips and cheese balls were also recovered during the raid.
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The joint task force demolished over 120 illegal shanties, including makeshift structures built along the perimeter fence of St. Peter’s Catholic Nursery and Primary School on Apapa Road. Giwa said the move was part of efforts to reclaim public spaces, enhance safety, and restore urban aesthetics in the area.
Reaffirming the state government’s zero tolerance policy on illegal occupation and environmental violations, Giwa said the cleanup aligns with the administration’s vision for a safer, cleaner, and more orderly Lagos.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, lauded the collaboration between agencies, describing it as a model for effective law enforcement synergy in Lagos.
“LASTMA’s role extends beyond traffic management it includes ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and keeping transport corridors free from criminal activities,” Bakare-Oki said.
He urged Lagos residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and cooperate with authorities as the government intensifies efforts to rid the city of criminal elements.
According to Giwa, the six arrested suspects have been handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
“We remain committed to safeguarding lives, property, and the integrity of Lagos’s transport system,” he concluded.
