In a significant enforcement action, 37 street traders in Lagos State, comprising 23 men and 14 women, were apprehended on Thursday, May 29, 2025, following an aggressive confrontation with officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI). The arrests stemmed from their assault on the enforcement agents and their defiance in breaking government seals after committing various environmental infractions in the Kodesoh area of Ikeja Local Government Area.
According to a statement issued by Kunle Adeshina, Director of Public Affairs for the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, and shared on his X handle, the incident unfolded after KAI officers advised the traders to remove their wares, which were illegally displayed on walkways and roadsides. The traders were also cited for indiscriminate refuse dumping.
Adeshina detailed the escalation of events, noting that some traders resisted the directive, leading to the brutalization of KAI officers who were on lawful duty. In the melee, a phone belonging to one of the officers was seized. Although all the illegally erected stalls on the walkways and roadsides were initially sealed, the traders defiantly removed these seals and resumed their trading activities on Thursday morning.
This blatant disregard for authority prompted the deployment of a reinforcement team of KAI officers to the area. The stalls were subsequently resealed, and the individuals responsible for the attacks were arrested that same morning. The Ministry confirmed that those arrested will face charges in court, in strict accordance with the provisions of the 2017 Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Management law, underscoring the state's commitment to upholding environmental regulations and ensuring the safety of its enforcement personnel.
