Lagos Arraigns 50 Suspects Over Attack Of Officials And Vandalization Of Government Equipment

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

50 suspects were arrested by the Lagos State Government over the attack on government officials and the vandalization of government equipment around Idansan Village, Ibeju, Lekki, Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, disclosed that the 50 suspects including 4 girls had attacked officials of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) while they were on official duties demolishing illegal shanties erected on acquired lands and eventually set a caterpillar belonging to the State Government on fire.

CSP Egbeyemi disclosed further that the LASBCA officials were attacked with stones, Iron-rods, broken bottles and burnt tyres before the arrival of the  enforcement team of the Agency that rescued the officials.

He confirmed that investigation revealed that owners/occupiers of those illegal shanties were served necessary notices and were given months to evacuate all  their belongings from the government approved land for Dangote Refinery around the area.

The Task Force Chairman stated that government equipment (caterpillar) worth millions of Naira used for clearing the illegal shanties was completely burnt as the suspects were said to have set the equipment ablaze with petrol at the location of the clearing.

CSP Egbeyemi hinted that the 50 arrested suspects were arraigned on the directive of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi. The Commissioner of Police directed further that CSP Egbeyemi should arrest and prosecute any members of the public who vandalized government properties across the State.

CP Edgal Imohimi however implored   members of the public to always protect government properties within their area as anyone caught vandalizing public properties including iron-mesh used for road demarcation along expressways would be seriously dealt with in accordance with the law.

One of the arraigned suspect Henry Agbor (45yrs) who hailed from Abia State appealed to the government to tamper justice with mercy as they were mobilised with different weapons by owners of these illegal shanties to carry out the barbaric acts.

He promised, “I will never attack any official nor destroy public property again in my life if pardoned by the government”

Meanwhile, the arrested 50 suspects were arraigned on a 4-count charged of ‘Arson under section 341 (c)’, ‘Conspiracy under section 411’, ‘Conduct likely to cause breach of peace under section 168 (1) (d)’ and ‘Unlawful obstruction under section 117 (1) & (2) of the Lagos Law of Lagos State 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Bola Osunsanmi, however on application remanded 50 of them in prison and immediately referred the case file to the Director, Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice on the matter due to one of the charges ‘Arson’ which carried a ‘Life Imprisonment’.