The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) says it arrested 14,087 suspects from various criminal black spots across the state between June 2024 and June 2025.

The agency’s chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, disclosed this during a media parley on Tuesday in Lagos, held in commemoration of his one-year anniversary as head of the task force.

Akerele said the arrests were made in areas including Oshodi, Mushin, Iju Ishaga Railway, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Ikoyi, Obalende, and Marina, among others.

He said, “After thorough screening, 1,287 suspects were released, while 12,999 were arraigned in court. This resulted in a marked reduction in criminal activities in these areas.”

Akerele added that the agency also impounded 1,019 vehicles from key locations such as Victoria Island, Apapa, Ikeja, and Agege Motor Road, with several of them forfeited to the state through court orders.

In the same period, Akerele the task force boss said 418 street hawkers and traders were arrested in locations like Ikeja, Obalende, Ikoyi, Eko Hotel area, and Ipaja, noting that their goods were confiscated in a bid to improve public safety and urban order.

“1,786 shanties were demolished in areas such as Ogombo, White Sand, Mile 2, Fagba, Epe, Oworonshoki, and Agege.”

“These efforts have restored order and mitigated health and security risks in those communities,” Akerele said.

He also disclosed a significant increase in enforcement against commercial motorcycles, with 16,625 motorcycles impounded over the past year, up from 6,915 in 2023 and early 2024.

“Our key enforcement zones included 2nd Rainbow, FESTAC, Badagry Motorway, Lagos Island, Ikeja, Agege, Iyana Iba, Apapa, and Ipaja.

“This aligns with the state government’s ongoing ban on commercial motorcycles on major highways and other restricted routes,” he said.

Akerele explained that the agency had intensified its operations with the launch of the clean-up enforcement drive in April 2025, which targets miscreants, street urchins, drug addicts, and suspected criminals across all corners of the state.

He said, “In continuation of the agency’s operation to rid the state of criminal elements, we launched the clean-up operation at least twice a week during the wee hours.

“A total of 2,276 individuals were arrested during these operations. After screening, 222 were released, while 2,154 were charged to court. Sanity was restored in all the affected areas to ensure safety and orderliness.”

Reflecting on his first year in office, Akerele thanked the media and stakeholders for their support, describing the occasion as “a moment to reflect, reset, and renew our joint commitment to a safer, cleaner Lagos.”

“We have gathered here today to seek your continued guidance, support, protection, and reportorial coverage of the activities of this agency.

“As you will all agree, we can no longer afford to keep ‘dancing in the dark.’ This forum reaffirms our commitment to integrity, operational excellence, public safety, and best practices under my leadership since assuming office in June 2024,” he noted.

Estabilished in 1991 by the Environmental Sanitation Edit, the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit operates under a mandate to address environmental infractions, criminal elements, and enhance public safety in the state. Specifically, they focus on “cleaning up the Lagos metropolis, enforcing environmental laws, and combating criminal activities.”