The Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to cracking down on individuals involved in the vandalisation of public assets.
This follows the arrest of Abba Mohammed who allegedly stole iron from concrete barriers in the Odo Iya Alaro area of the state on Tuesday.
According to Spokesperson for the Lagos State Ministry of Environment Kunle Adesina, Mohammed, aged 24, was arrested along with two others following an intelligence report from a concerned citizen.
The trio were dismantling the concrete barriers to extract iron when luck ran out on them. However, the other suspects fled the scene, leaving Mohammed to his fate.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, May 14, Adesina explained that Mohammed attempted to justify his actions by claiming ignorance of the purpose of the barriers, alleging they had fallen.
However, his attempt to evade arrest by damaging the bus window during transport to the Ministry led to his handover to the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences for further investigation and prosecution.
Zero-Tolerance Policy Against Vandalisation
Lagos Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab stressed the government’s zero-tolerance policy against vandalism, warning that offenders would face the full weight of the law.
“Over the years, theft and vandalism of government property, especially items and public infrastructure that are valuable and profitable, have become the target of these people, a situation that we can no longer condone.
“The concrete barriers are built along all drainage channels and canals by the ministry across the state to separate the drainage and canal right of way from encroachment by residents.
“Anyone caught in vandalism and sale of items like railings on sidewalks, bridges, railroad tracks, iron from concrete barriers, as well as manhole covers, will face the law,” Wahab said.
He encouraged the public to protect government property like railings, bridges, concrete barriers, and manhole covers to maintain public infrastructure integrity.