Task force demolishes 2,500 illegal structures, recovers guns, drugs

Over 2,500 illegal structures at Ijaiye and Bode Thomas in Ojokoro and Surulere local councils were at the weekend demolished by the Lagos State task force, with guns and wraps of illicit drugs recovered by the operatives. The task force also arrested Mr. Saka Lawal, Mrs. Tawa Lawal and Miss Kausara Saka in connection with the recovered gun and illicit drugs.

The demolition was sequel to the directive by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who tasked the agency to remove illegal structures across the state, especially those under high-tension cables.

Confirming the exercise, the task force chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said over 2,500 structures were demolished with dane guns and wraps of illicit drugs suspected to be Indian hemp recovered from Powerline Street at Ijaiye.

According to him, before the agency embarked on the demolition, all occupants of the demolished structures were served with ‘Removal Order’ notice by the government.

He said: “The demolished structures and containers constructed under the high tension cables were an eyesore with miscreants freely smoking Indian hemp, including prostitution by underaged boys and girls around the area.

“Wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and other outlawed drugs such as Tramadol-200 Super, Tramadol Capsules RG11 and Analgin Injection 500mg were recovered from the notorious cult group called Adura Boys, who have been terrorizing the area in Ojokoro.”

Egbeyemi called on landlords, local councils, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to stop allocating lands indiscriminately and collecting money from innocent citizens in order to erect illegal shanties/structures under high tension cables as anyone caught would be arrested and charge to court.

A resident of the area, Mr. Eniola Augustine, commended the government for the demolition. He lamented that apart from people risking their lives by living or trading under high-tension cables some members of the dreaded Adura Boys usually escape into these illegal structures after attacking innocent citizens with dangerous weapons.