LIVE UPDATES
LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State Government has attributed the rise in traffic robberies and other criminal activities throughout the state to miscreants who take refuge and sleep under bridges, using these locations as hideouts for illegal activities.
The government noted that these individuals are responsible for the growing number of robbery and violent crime incidents, often operating from makeshift encampments beneath bridges and in abandoned buildings across the state.
This statement followed shortly after Nollywood actor Adeniyi Johnson sounded the alarm over the worsening security situation in the state after experiencing two robberies in traffic.
Johnson shared his encounter with armed robbers while stuck in traffic, urging immediate action to address the increasing occurrences of armed robbery on major roads.
In a video he posted, Johnson recounted that the incident occurred at night and involved a gang of three in the Ketu area. Expressing his fear and frustration, he mentioned that the criminals damaged his car while attempting to take his belongings.
In response, the Commissioner for the Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, announced on Monday that the increase in traffic robberies and related crimes is linked to miscreants seeking shelter under bridges and in concealed areas of the city.
Wahab stated that security forces have stepped up their patrols in crime hotspots and are actively working to displace the miscreants from their hideouts beneath major bridges.
He commented, “The majority of those committing these criminal acts are the miscreants who sleep and hide under bridges in Lagos, and we have been regularly arresting them.
However, some individuals have criticized us on social media, referring to them as ‘homeless’. The positive aspect is that we remain determined and unfazed. Lagos must be safe for all.”
