In a major crackdown on criminal activities in Lagos, operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have apprehended six suspected members of a notorious “one-chance” syndicate operating beneath the Ijora Bridge corridor. The arrest, which took place on Thursday, October 23, 2025, was part of a coordinated inter-agency enforcement operation aimed at restoring order and enhancing public safety across the state.
According to a statement issued by LASTMA, the joint operation targeted illegal garages, makeshift parks, and shanties that had become safe havens for criminals in areas surrounding Apapa Road, Costain, and Ijora Under Bridge. The enforcement exercise led to the recovery of 77 assorted mobile phones, two POS machines, several wristwatches, and other personal effects suspected to have been stolen from unsuspecting commuters.
The operation was led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, with active participation from the Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police (MOPOL), Lagos State Task Force, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), and the Nigerian Army.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Ijora under-bridge axis had long served as a base for “one-chance” operators and criminal elements who engage in orchestrated theft, violent assaults, and other unlawful activities. The area was also reportedly used as a storage hub for stolen items and contraband goods.
Speaking on the development, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended the synergy among the participating security and enforcement agencies, describing the exercise as a “model of effective inter-agency collaboration in crime prevention and urban restoration.”
He reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to sustaining similar operations across the metropolis, stressing that no part of the city would be allowed to serve as a safe haven for criminals or illegal commercial activities.
This operation underscores the government’s zero-tolerance stance on criminality, lawlessness, and environmental abuse. We are determined to reclaim every part of Lagos from miscreants and restore order to our transportation corridors,” Bakare-Oki stated.
The suspects are currently in custody and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
The Lagos State Government has urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities around major transport corridors to security agencies for prompt action.
