Lagos set to charge 75 suspects arrested along Coastal Road

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to prosecute 75 suspected offenders arrested along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road during a recent clean-up operation.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a statement shared on his Facebook page on Thursday.
Wahab said the arrests were made on Wednesday during intensified sanitation and enforcement activities along the coastal corridor. The suspects include 68 men and seven women, with substances believed to be illicit drugs recovered during the exercise.

He explained that as part of the ongoing clean-up drive, operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Task Force carried out a late-night raid around 10 pm, focusing on areas identified as crime hotspots.

During the operation, all 75 suspects were apprehended, while suspected illegal drugs were seized at the scene.

The commissioner also revealed that a task force officer, Inspector Omosanjo Mohamed, was attacked by hoodlums during the raid and suffered a serious head injury. He is currently receiving medical care. Wahab stressed that attacks on law enforcement officers carrying out legitimate duties would not be tolerated.

He added that all those arrested would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

According to the state government, the suspects will be charged to court after investigations, under relevant state laws covering environmental offences, public nuisance, drug-related crimes, and assault.

Wahab reaffirmed the government’s determination to restore order along the coastal corridor, describing the operation as part of wider efforts to reclaim public spaces from criminal activities.

He said the administration remains committed to safeguarding public areas and ensuring the safety and security of law-abiding residents across Lagos.

Sections of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road, particularly those under construction and expansion, have recently drawn complaints from motorists and residents over harassment and rising insecurity. Officials said the latest operation reflects the state’s zero-tolerance approach to street crime and environmental violations, aimed at maintaining Lagos as a safe and economically vibrant city.