Lagos State Commissioner of Police Acting CP EDGAL IMOHIMI has directed the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force SP Olayinka Egbeyemi to dislodge all illegal traders who sells goods on roads and walkways to reduce traffic gridlocked around markets across the State.
The Police chief frowned at activities of these traders who indiscriminately displayed their wares on roads and walkways thereby causing serious traffic gridlock to motorists and commuters.
Head, Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Task Force, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, stated this in a statement he issued in Lagos, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, on Sunday.
According to Adebayo, the Acting CP EDGAL IMOHIMI said activities of these traders not only hindered free flow of traffic but also gives room for miscreants and hoodlums to attack motorists while in heavy traffic around major markets across the State.
Consequently, the operatives of the Lagos State Task Force during a joint enforcement operations carried out yesterday with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) arrested 11 traders with a traditional chief ( Chief Amodu Shakiru) popularly called ‘Baba-Oja’ for collecting illegal fees from traders on roads and walkways on daily basis at Igando.
During interrogation, the 11 arrested illegal traders alleged that chief Amodu Shakiru opularly called ‘Baba-Oja’ collects money from every traders who sells on the road and walkways every evening at Igando.
In her words a trader Mrs Caroline Endurance said it was ‘Baba-Oja’ who allocates walkways and road setbacks to traders very evening at Igando.
“Yes if you don’t pay N500 to Chief Amodu Shakiru (Baba-Oja) you won’t be allocated space to sell goods during evening at Igando’
SP Egbeyemi advised traders to conform with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Laws and Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 in order to have an orderly, hygiene and traffic free society.
He stated that both the Lagos State Task Force and Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) would continue to enforce the law and arrest anybody aiding and abetting these illegal traders acrossthe State.
The Chairman vowed that at no amount of abuse or propaganda would deterred him from carrying out its legitimate duties in accordance with the law saying nobody is above the law
He however confirmed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Acting CP EDGAL IMOHIMI has directed that all 11 arrested illegal traders including ‘Baba-Oja’ who collects illegal fees from traders be immediately charge to court for prosecutions.
