Oluwatosin Lamidi
The Lagos State Government through the state Environmental Sanitation and Special Offence Unit Task Force  on arrested 71 street traders and miscreants, for terrorizing residents and violating the state environmental law in Ikorodu axis of the state.
Of the 71 suspects arrested, 38 were street traders and 33 miscreants, who had been terrorizing and collecting illegal fees from residents’ of Ketu, Owode-Elede, Ajelogo, Alapere and Mile 12 axis of the state.
The traders were arrested for hawking, displaying and selling wares on six-lane Mile 12-Ikorodu road setbacks/walkways.
The arrest was sequel to complaints by residents that the activities of traders and miscreants within that axis was becoming a nightmare to them.
One of the arrested traders at Mile 12, Awawu Adeyemi, who disclosed that she owned one of the shops in Ikorodu market, lamented that she resulted to trading on the ever busy road after discovering customers prefer patronizing street traders and hawkers to visiting the market.
She argued that the discovery prompted her to join those already trading on the road in order to make sales, even as she pleaded for mercy.
Speaking after the arrest, Taskforce chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi, in a statement signed by the Unit Public Affairs Unit, Adebayo Taofiq, explained that the arrest was aimed at protecting live and to ensure free flow of traffic Mile 12-Ikorodu road.
He added the arrest was also targeted at reiterating the commitment of state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, in providing a safer and conducive environment for residents of Lagos state.
He warned traders to desist from hawking or displaying wares on road setbacks/walkways.
The taskforce chairman vowed that agency would not relent in enforcing every dictates of both the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws, 2012 and Lagos State Sanitation Laws.
