Taskforce Operation Triggers Fire As Suspected Miscreants Resist Arrest At Fagba Railway Corridor
OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
A clean-up enforcement operation by the Lagos State Taskforce at the Fagba Railway Corridor was disrupted on Thursday after suspected miscreants and street urchins allegedly set parts of the area ablaze in an attempt to evade arrest.
The incident occurred during an ongoing operation aimed at clearing shanties, illegal settlements and criminal hideouts across parts of the state.
Officials said the railway corridor had become a hub for criminal activities, including robbery, rape, cultism, drug peddling, and attacks on moving trains and passengers.
According to the agency, the early morning raid covered several locations within the Agege axis, including Alfa Nla, Okekoto, Pen Cinema and the Fagba Railway Corridor.
The exercise was coordinated by the Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, as part of efforts to enforce a zero-tolerance policy on crime.
During the operation at Fagba, enforcement officers reportedly met resistance from suspected hoodlums, who escalated the situation by setting sections of the corridor on fire.
The blaze posed a threat to nearby facilities, including a filling station and a bank branch in the vicinity.
The situation was eventually brought under control following the intervention of Taskforce operatives, with support from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, which helped to contain the fire and prevent further damage.
Authorities confirmed that several suspects were arrested in connection with the arson and other alleged offences. The suspects are expected to be prosecuted in line with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.
Speaking after the operation, Akerele warned youths against engaging in criminal activities, urging them to pursue lawful means of livelihood. He reiterated that the agency would continue its enforcement drive to rid the state of criminal elements.
The Taskforce noted that the operation is the third of its kind in the area this year, underscoring its commitment to maintaining public safety and eliminating criminal hideouts across Lagos.
