Lagos arrests 27 over alleged vandalism of Festac-Alakija bridge

The Lagos State Government has arrested 27 suspected hoodlums for allegedly vandalising the newly completed bridge linking Festac Town to Alakija during a late-night enforcement operation.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the arrests in a statement released on Friday.

He described the alleged destruction of the bridge as a deliberate attack on public infrastructure and warned that such actions would not be tolerated.

According to the commissioner, initial investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly removed important structural materials from the bridge, including iron rods, steel reinforcements, electrical cables and other components needed to ensure the bridge’s strength and safety.

Wahab said the government views the incident as a serious threat to public assets and stressed that those responsible would face the full weight of the law if found guilty.

He also reaffirmed the state’s commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and preventing further acts of vandalism.

“Investigations revealed that suspected hoodlums had deliberately vandalised critical structural components of the bridge by removing iron rods, steel reinforcements, cables and other supporting materials essential to the integrity of the infrastructure,” he said.

The commissioner warned that the alleged destruction of the bridge’s structural elements poses a significant danger to public safety and compromises the government’s investment in critical infrastructure.

“This criminal act poses a serious threat to public safety and undermines the government’s investment in critical infrastructure,” Wahab added.

He explained that the suspects were apprehended during a coordinated midnight operation carried out by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, in collaboration with the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI,p task force.

“The operation led to the arrest of 27 suspected hoodlums, who will be prosecuted in accordance with the extant laws of Lagos State,” the commissioner stated.

Wahab reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to safeguarding public infrastructure, stressing that enforcement operations against vandals and other offenders would be sustained.

“The Lagos State Government remains committed to protecting public infrastructure and will continue to take decisive action against individuals or groups engaged in acts of vandalism, environmental infractions and other criminal activities that threaten the safety and wellbeing of residents,” he said.

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