Caught in the Act: 70-year-old man nabbed vandalising Lagos Canal Fence

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has confirmed the arrest of a 70-year-old man, Kayode Otitoju, for allegedly vandalising an ongoing government infrastructure project in Lekki Phase 1.

Wahab, in a statement issued via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday morning, said Otitoju was caught red-handed destroying parts of a perimeter fence being constructed by the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources along the canal setback in Lekki Phase 1.

Describing the act as “sabotage against Lagosians,” Wahab emphasised that the canal fencing project is designed to protect lives and property by preventing encroachment and reducing environmental hazards, especially flooding.

“This infrastructure protects lives and property. Sabotaging it is sabotage against Lagosians,” Wahab stated.

He added that the suspect would face the full weight of the law, reiterating the state government’s commitment to protecting public infrastructure and prosecuting acts of wilful destruction.

Authorities have yet to release further details about the charges or the timeline for Otitoju’s arraignment.

However, the incident has drawn strong reactions from members of the public, many of whom are calling for stricter enforcement to deter similar acts.