The Lagos State Government on Friday arrested 15 street beggars during an enforcement exercise carried out in the Ikosi Ketu and Mile 12 areas.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who confirmed the development via his X handle, said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to maintain public order and prevent the misuse of public spaces.

“Fifteen street beggars were apprehended this morning during our enforcement operations at Ikosi Ketu and Mile 12,” Wahab said. “This is part of our ongoing effort to maintain order, ensure safety, and protect public spaces from misuse.”

He added that the ministry would sustain its enforcement activities while working with relevant social welfare agencies to offer rehabilitation support where necessary.

“Lagos must remain safe, clean, and orderly for all who live and work here. Our resolve remains firm,” he stated.

Friday’s arrests follow a similar operation on Thursday, during which eight suspected phone snatchers were picked up on the Mile 2 pedestrian bridge by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps. The suspects were later sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

The government says it will continue to intensify enforcement actions aimed at safeguarding public spaces and curbing street begging across the state.

The Lagos State Government has assured residents and commuters that the planned rehabilitation of the Lekki–Ajah corridor will not result in heavy traffic disruption or prolonged gridlock.

In a statement issued on Friday, the government acknowledged growing public concerns, especially with the festive season approaching, but emphasised that the project has been strategically designed to maintain steady vehicular movement throughout the construction period.

According to the statement, the rehabilitation will be executed in “carefully planned phases,” with only selected portions of the road undergoing repairs at any given time. These sections, it said, have been deliberately chosen to ensure minimal impact on the main carriageway.

As part of its traffic management strategy, the state government is activating alternative routes and improving existing bypasses.

“Alternative routes are being opened and strengthened, including the Coastal Road and adjoining service lanes, to provide smoother diversions where necessary,” the statement said.

To further ease congestion, major construction activities will be done at night, when traffic volume is lowest. The government confirmed that a night-shift schedule has been adopted for critical repair components.

On traffic control measures, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will deploy officers in large numbers along the stretch to ensure free flow of movement and promptly address any bottlenecks that may arise.

The government reiterated that the rehabilitation project is aimed at delivering long-term improvements, not additional discomfort.

“The rehabilitation project intends to improve the Lekki–Ajah corridor, not to add discomfort to residents,” it said, urging the public to remain patient as the upgrades progress.

Reaffirming its commitment to infrastructural development, the statement added that the government will continue to engage with stakeholders and provide updates as work advances.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has successfully recaptured a high-ranking commander of the Ansaru terrorist group, Abdulazeez Obadaki.

He is believed to be the mastermind behind the horrific mass shooting at a Deeper Life Bible Church near Okene, Kogi State, which took place on August 7, 2012.

This recapture marks a significant step in bringing those responsible for the tragedy to justice. The attack on the church, a deeply sorrowful event, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 19 worshippers, including the pastor, and left many others with varying degrees of injuries.

The DSS’s efforts to apprehend Obadaki demonstrate their commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring the safety of citizens.

Security sources disclosed that the suspected terrorist leader confessed to orchestrating the Kuje Custodial centre jailbreak following his transfer from Kabba Custodial Centre in June 2022.

According to the sources, after over three years of being on the run, DSS operatives in a, well-oiled intelligence operation recaptured Obadaki aka Bomboy, on Friday morning.

This arrest comes barely two months after the secret police arraigned five suspects linked to the 2022 Catholic Church attack in Owo, Ondo State.

During the February 2022 daylight bank robberies in Uromi, Edo State, which instilled widespread fear across the region, several policemen and bank customers were killed, while hundreds of millions of Naira was reportedly carted away.

The secret police has, of recent, been recording a chain of successes in the capture of terrorists and criminal elements across the nation, with its new leadership fast-tracking the trial of the arrested suspects.