LASTMA, SECURITY AGENCIES ARREST SIX ‘ONE-CHANCE’ SUSPECTS, DEMOLISH 120 SHANTIES UNDER IJORA BRIDGE
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have arrested six suspected members of a notorious “one-chance” syndicate operating under the Ijora Bridge corridor in Lagos.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, the arrests were made on Thursday, October 23, 2025, during a joint enforcement operation targeting illegal garages, shanties, and criminal hideouts along Apapa Road, Costain, and the Ijora under-bridge area.
The operation was conducted in collaboration with personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police, Lagos State Task Force, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, and the Nigerian Army.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said the exercise underscores the Sanwo-Olu administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards environmental violations, unlawful occupation of public spaces, and criminal activities.
“The clean-up and arrests are part of a broader government strategy to ensure a safer, cleaner, and more habitable metropolis. Criminal elements still operating beneath bridges and in unauthorized spaces are warned to vacate immediately,” Giwa said.
Recovered items from the suspects included 77 mobile phones, two POS machines, several wristwatches, and other valuables allegedly stolen from commuters and pedestrians.
Enforcement officers also seized several kegs of adulterated diesel and over 150 packs of expired snacks, including plantain chips and cheese balls.
Giwa noted that the Ijora under-bridge area had become a criminal hub and storage site for stolen goods.
“This area had evolved into a clandestine storage hub for stolen valuables and contraband goods. Today, we have dismantled these hideouts and restored order in the corridor,” he said.
The operation further led to the demolition of more than 120 illegal shanties, including those surrounding St. Peter’s Catholic Nursery and Primary School, Apapa Road, as part of efforts to reclaim public spaces.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, lauded the inter-agency collaboration, describing it as “cooperation at its best.”
“LASTMA’s role extends beyond traffic management. It includes ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and safeguarding transport corridors from criminal encroachment,” he stated.
Bakare-Oki urged Lagos residents to remain alert and report suspicious activities to authorities.
The six suspects Adetunji Bashiru (28), Sulaiman Kada (35), Abubakar Bala (42), Abubakar Ahmed (28), Rasaq Gbadamosi (21), and Ibrahim Yakub (23) — have been handed over to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
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