94 squatters nabbed on Lagos rail tracks

No fewer than 94 persons taking shelter along some rail tracks in Lagos State were arrested by operatives of the state task force on Wednesday.

The spokesperson for the task force, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that the arrest was part of efforts aimed at ensuring the security of residents in the areas.

He said the operation followed repeated complaints received about the activities of some criminal elements in Fagba, Agege, Pen Cinema and its environs.

According to him, makeshifts and illegal shanties that served as hideouts to miscreants were also cleared.

“The Lagos State Task Force has continued its mission to maintain the safety and security of residents and ensure Lagosians live in a habitable environment by clearing illegal shanties and makeshift buildings along Pen Cinema to Fagba railway corridor and its environs, covering a distance of about 25 kilometres.

“The sting operation, which commenced in the early hours of the day, was supervised by the chairman of the agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, who took illegal occupants and squatters in the corridor by surprise.

“Some of the recalcitrant squatters attempted to resist the agency’s actions. However, 94 of them were arrested and will be charged in court promptly.”

Continuing, Akerele who spoke through Abdulraheem, noted that the agency would continue the operation to ensure that recalcitrant individuals did not return to the rail tracks.

He added that the agency would not hesitate to prosecute whoever might violate the ban on activities along the tracks.

Abdulraheem continued, “Akerele assured residents in Fagba, Agege, Pen Cinema, and environs, and train passengers that adequate patrols and regular surveillance will be carried out along the corridor to ensure no squatters return to erect any shanty in the future.

“He pledged to arrest and prosecute any individual or group attempting to return to the site.

“The rail tracks are not meant for habitation or the sale of narcotics. Anyone caught converting this place into a den of criminals or an area of residence will face severe consequences according to the law.”

Accordingly, Abdulraheem stressed that “substances suspected to be hard drugs like Indian hemp, Colorado, other harmful and dangerous drugs and weapons were confiscated during the raid.”

PUNCH Metro reported on October 15 that the task force vowed to arrest traders who might be plying their trade along the rail tracks.

The warning came following incidents of a train crushing about two persons to death in the Ikeja and Oshodi areas of the state.

Abdulraheem had stressed that though some of the traders were dislodged, some had remained recalcitrant to repeated warnings banning their activities.