Lagos State government through its Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), yesterday, arrested 13 miscreants and 57 others for crossing the highways without using pedestrian bridges.
• Two officers assaulted
Lagos State government through its Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), yesterday, arrested 13 miscreants and 57 others for crossing the highways without using pedestrian bridges.
They were arrested at Supa Ile Epo, Lagos, Ladipo, Oshodi Oke, Onipanu, Iyana Ipaja and Ojota areas of the state. During the operation, one Paul Opemipo, 29, and Kamorudeen Jamiu, 37, assaulted an officer of the agency, Semiu Adebowale and Akeem Olatunji of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
A student of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Sophia Ibekwe, who was one of those arrested, claimed ignorance of the law against crossing the road.
“I am not aware that government’s officers are arresting people for crossing the road,” she said. Meanwhile, the Corps Marshal of the Agency, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (retd) has admonished Lagosians to make proper use of pedestrian bridges for their safety instead of crossing highways to prevent hit and run cases by speeding motorists.
He also read a riot act to miscreants in the habit of converting pedestrian bridges to sleeping areas, which deters Lagosians from using them, warning that anyone caught will be made to face the law.
The LAGESC boss also said the agency has recorded giant strides in ridding pedestrian bridges across Lagos of criminal obstructions with daily arrests made alongside secured prosecutions by the courts.
Cole admonished Lagosians to desist from street trading, hawking in traffic, patronage of cart pushers for refuse disposal, erection of illegal structures on laybys, setbacks, medians, road verges, kerbs or around public schools in the State just as he warned that defaulters will be made to face the consequences via prosecution in a court competent court jurisdiction.
On his part, Head, Public Affairs and Advocacy Unit, Ajayi Lukman, advised Lagosians that it’s better to get to the office or an occasion late than to be declared late.