The Lagos State Environmental Task Force on Tuesday arrested 26 suspects for allegedly collecting money from cart pushers to allow them to illegally dump refuse at Orile Under Bridge in Lagos State.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement on X, said the operation was carried out following credible information about their activities in the location.

Mr Wahab said, “Following credible reports that hoodlums had taken over the Orile Under Bridge and were extorting money from cart pushers who dump refuse illegally in the area, the Environmental Task Force carried out a raid at about 2:45 p.m. today.

“During the operation, 26 suspects were arrested. Some of them admitted to collecting money from cart pushers in exchange for allowing indiscriminate dumping of waste. They have been taken into custody for further investigation and necessary action in line with the law.”

Mr Wahab stated that operatives, in another operation later in the day along the Coastal Road, dismantled illegal structures on the road setback that had been converted to makeshift dwellings.

He said, “In a separate operation earlier today at about 8:00 a.m., agency operatives continued the ongoing cleanup exercise along the Coastal Road. Hoodlums had converted the road setback into makeshift dwellings, erecting several wooden sheds and occupying the corridor unlawfully. The illegal structures were dismantled, and items stored along the roadside were removed.”

Vowing not to allow public infrastructure to be hijacked for illegal activities, the commissioner insisted that enforcement will remain consistent and sustained across the state.