LAGOS TASKFORCE BURSTS CRIMINAL HIDEOUT IN GOWON ESTATE

…arrests 53 drug peddlers, street urchins

In a targeted operation to enhance safety, security of lives and properties, as well as environmental decorum, the Lagos State Taskforce has apprehended 53 suspected drug peddlers, addicts, miscreants, street urchins, illegal street traders, and individuals involved in shady business dealings. A variety of illicit drugs and narcotics suspected to include Indian hemp, codeine syrup, Colorado, and other harmful substances unfit for human consumption were recovered during the raid.

The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, emphasized that this operation is a critical step toward securing relief for residents around Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Egbeda, Idimu, and its environs, who have suffered due to the activities of these suspected criminals. According to him, residents have endured trauma and safety risks caused by the presence of unauthorized and wayward squatters.

“The Lagos State Taskforce remains fully committed to safeguarding all residents, and we will continue our efforts to rid the metropolis of individuals who prey on law-abiding citizens,” CSP Akerele stated.

The Chairman also reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to systematically monitoring other criminal hideouts, blackspots, abandoned buildings, and properties that are not in active use. This vigilance, he said, is aimed at deterring individuals with sinister motives and forcing them to desist or relocate out of the State.

“These arrests underscore our determination to maintain a safe, serene, and conducive environment for all,” he added. “We will not rest until every individual involved in these illegal practices is held accountable. The 53 suspects apprehended for unlawfully engaging in the sale and use of narcotics, drug peddling, and street trading will be promptly charged in court.”

Alhaji Muraina Ajao, popularly known as Famous, a resident in the area, commended the efforts of the Taskforce in ridding the community of these illegal and unwanted elements. He noted that, for the first time in the past seven years, passing through Gowon Estate now feels safe.

The Lagos State Taskforce encourages residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities through the ‘See Something, Say Something’ initiative. Public cooperation, the Agency emphasized, remains vital to keeping the city safe, peaceful, and livable.

Gbadeyan Abdulraheem

Director, Press & Public Affairs

Lagos State Taskforce