Lagos court jails 14 for assaulting KAI officials

…Govt Vows to Intensify Enforcement

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, on Wednesday sentenced 14 persons to three months imprisonment each for assaulting officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as KAI, while they were carrying out lawful duties at the Oshodi Resettlement Market.

The convicts were arrested on Tuesday following an attack on KAI personnel during an enforcement operation in the market.

The incident reportedly resulted in the assault of officials and the vandalisation of an operational vehicle by suspected miscreants.

Some of the suspects were apprehended at the scene and subsequently detained at the agency’s headquarters in Oshodi before being arraigned in court.

During the proceedings, all 14 defendants pleaded guilty to the charges and were accordingly convicted by the magistrate.

The convicted persons are Zaradeen Sheu, Abdullahi Bello, Saheed Oladele, Dan Halima Umar, Nofiu Ibrahim, Abubakar Sari, Alfred Magnus, Sanni Adamu, Umar Sabi, Dayabu Sanmar, Seidu Adam, Isa Muhammed, Yakubu Umar and Abubakar Muktari.

Following the attack, the Lagos State Government ordered the indefinite closure of the Oshodi Resettlement Market.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the closure via his X account, stating that traders, allegedly acting in concert with miscreants, obstructed government officials and attacked enforcement personnel during an operation targeting hoodlums and beggars in the area.

According to reports, LAGESC operatives had moved into the market to enforce environmental and public order regulations when they encountered resistance from suspected traders and miscreants.

Officials were reportedly prevented from arresting suspected hoodlums and beggars, while agency vehicles were damaged during the operation.

LAGESC is responsible for enforcing environmental sanitation laws across Lagos State, including tackling street trading, environmental violations, public nuisance and other activities deemed detrimental to public order.

“As a result of the attack on government officials and the disruption of lawful enforcement activities, the Oshodi Resettlement Market has been shut down,” Wahab stated.

The commissioner stressed that the state government would not tolerate attacks on law enforcement and environmental officials, insisting that government agencies must be allowed to carry out their statutory responsibilities without intimidation or interference.

He also vowed that the state would sustain its enforcement drive to eliminate environmental infractions and other acts of indiscipline.

The development comes months after the Lagos State Government sealed the Ladipo Spare Parts Market in Mushin over alleged environmental violations, including indiscriminate waste disposal and illegal street trading.

The government has consistently maintained that market operators and traders must comply with environmental and public safety regulations, warning that violators risk sanctions ranging from fines to outright closure.

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