Lagos Arrests 11 Illegal Sand Dredgers

The Lagos State Government has called on illegal sand dredgers to desist from the act or be ready to face the law.

Superintendent Bayo Sulaiman, Chairman Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, Alausa, Ikeja, stated this after the arrest of 11 illegal sand dredgers in Eleju-Ketu, Epe and Maya, Ikorodu on Monday.

The arrest which was jointly carried out by the Task Force and Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resource Development, the Task Force chairman said, became necessary after the illegal dredgers failed to heed government’s warning.

According to him; “It is unfortunate that the situation is becoming rampant in recent times, especially in Ikorodu and Badagry axis, few days ago some people were arrested and charged to court.

“We are moving round Ikorodu, Badagry, Ajah and other parts of the state to put a stop to this act.”

Sulaiman said those behind the act never got permit from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Development to do so while some that have the permit to operate in a place used the same permit to carry out the illegal act in other places.

He advised those in the business to always follow due process in their operations.

He vowed that his agency will not stop arresting illegal sand dredgers until they desist from the act.

He said those arrested would be charged to court.

—Paul Sanusi