Lagos nabs hoodlums collecting levy on pedestrian bridge

The Lagos State Government has arrested two people suspected of extorting businessmen and residents for utilising a pedestrian bridge in the Yaba district of the state.

Tokunbo Wahab, the state commissioner for environment and water resources, made the announcement on Thursday via his X account.

Wahab stated that the arrest was made in reaction to a viral video showing the defendants carrying out the conduct.

The accused, whose identities were not revealed, were said to have levied a N100 fee on each pedestrian carrying bags.

The commissioner, who claimed to have ordered their immediate arrest, stated that they would be charged in court.

He wrote, “In response to the viral video of some miscreants extorting traiders and other Lagosians on a pedestrian bridge in Yaba, I instructed the Corps Marshal of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, @LAGESCOfficial, to immediately arrest the persons and the officer involved.

“They will be arraigned immediately in court while the clampdown on those on the run continues.”

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps arrested 63 people for allegedly crossing the roadway and indulging in illegal street selling.

In February, the state authorities threatened to arrest and imprison anybody who crossed the state‘s major highways instead of using pedestrian bridges.