Over 2,500 illegal structures in Ijaiye and Bode Thomas in Ojokoro Local Government Area and Surulere Local Government Area respectively, were at the weekend demolished by the Lagos State Task Force, with guns and wraps of illicit drugs recovered by the operatives.
This was just as the task force arrested Saka Lawal, Tawa Lawal and Kausara Saka in connection with the recovered gun.
The demolition was sequel to the directive by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who tasked the agency to remove illegal structures across the state, especially those under high tension cables.
The directive was backed by the state acting Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, who stressed that the Task Force must get rid of all criminal hideouts.
Thus, the agency over the weekend embarked on the demolition of criminal hideouts and illegal structures and containers in Ijaiye area of Ojokoro LGAand Bode Thomas area of Surulere LGA.
Confirming the exercise, the Task Force Chairman, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, said over 2,500 structures were demolished with a dane gun and wraps of illicit drugs suspected to be Indian hemp recovered from Powerline Street at Ijaiye under Ojokoro Local Government.
According to Egbeyemi, before the agency embarked on the demolition, all occupants of the demolished structures were served with “Removal Order” notice by the government.
He said: “Note that the radiation from these high tension cables poses serious danger to human health and that no responsible and responsive government would put lives of her citizens at risks.
“These demolished illegal structures and containers constructed under these high tension cables were an eyesore with miscreants and hoodlums freely smoking Indian hemp, including prostitution by under age boys and girls around the area.
“Wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and other outlawed drugs such as Tramadol-200 Super, Tramadol Capsules RG11 and Analgin Injection 500mg, were recovered from the notorious cult group called Adura Boys, who have been terrorising Powerline Street and other suburbs of Ijaiye in Ojokoro.
“Members of this dreaded notorious cult group, Adura Boys, usually rob innocent citizens of their money, including other valuable items such as phones, wallets and jewelleries.”
Egbeyemi called on landlords, council development areas, traditional rulers and other relevant stakeholders to stop allocating lands indiscriminately and collecting money from innocent citizens in order to erect illegal shanties/structures under high tension cables as anyone caught would be arrested and charge to court.
He enjoined members of the public living or engaging in trading activities under high tension cables across the state to vacate and remove their properties immediately.
He said the three arrested suspects were transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja on the directives of the CP.
A resident of the area, Eniola Augustin, commended the government for the demolition exercise.
Augustin lamented that apart from people risking their lives by living/engaging in trading activities under high tension cables, some members of Adura Boys always escape into these illegal structures and containers after attacking innocent citizens with dangerous weapons.
Another resident, Steven Odunjo, who commended the operatives of the Lagos State Task Force for a job well done, disclosed that a little girl of eight was recently raped by a member of this notorious cult group, who have been terrorising them every day and night.
Fatimoh Adeyemi, a trader who sells pepper and onion under Powerline Street in Ijaiye, Ojokoro, thanked the government for giving them adequate notices before the commencement of the demolition exercise.