The Lagos State Government has arrested 27 suspected hoodlums for allegedly vandalising the newly constructed bridge connecting Festac Town to Alakija during a late-night enforcement operation.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed the development in a statement on Friday, describing the incident as a serious act of sabotage against public infrastructure.
According to Wahab, preliminary investigations showed that the suspects allegedly stripped the bridge of vital structural materials, including iron rods, steel reinforcements, cables and other components essential to its stability and safety.
“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.
