A magistrates court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, on Tuesday ordered the remand of 34 traders for allegedly selling along the Ojo-Alaba Road during the weekend.

Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos environment and water resources commissioner, in a post on X on Monday, said the traders were remanded until July 22.

“Thirty-four individuals were arrested during weekend monitoring operations along Ojo-Alaba Road for selling on the road median.

“They were arraigned before the magistrate court sitting at Bolade and were remanded in prison custody till July 22 25,” Mr Wahab said without providing further details.

Mr Wahab’s post elicited reactions on X, with some lauding the move and urging the Lagos government to clear hawkers off the roads, while others condemned it.

An X user, @nojeemofLagos, said, “Baba abeg come to Obalende. The Bridge where you descend to passport office road. They sleep, cook, have sex, bathe, all sorts. Disguise and come around 4:00 a.m.-5:00 a.m. You will arrest a minimum of 50.”

Another user, @omolaoye_philip, said, “Very good @tokunbo_wahab those people are back on the road oooooooo, especially Okoko-Alaba Rago-Iyana Iba. Please, we need enforcement.”

Others questioned why the petty traders would be remanded in prison for weeks, a punishment more severe than the penalty for their offence.

An X user, @segolopade, said Remanding people in prison custody for a misdemeanour is a no, no. This is sad. This is cruel. This is unacceptable. What is the punishment for the offence itself? Why put people in prison custody for 6 weeks even before trial? @jidesanwoolu @followlasg this is not acceptable. Please do something fast.”

@omodolapoyusuff said, “An observation to make: you keep these people in the congested federal prison. What legislation are you pushing for the state to have her own cell or remand in order to reduce the congestion in these prisons? Or why not get an alternative punishment, such as non-custodial?”