Six of seven suspected miscreants have been remanded in custody by the Lagos State Mobile Courts for allegedly assaulting officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other government agencies during a midnight enforcement operation along Airport Road, Lagos.
The operation, led by LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, was carried out in collaboration with security operatives, the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Corps, the Lagos State Task Force, and LASTMA field officers.
According to a statement issued by LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, the enforcement exercise followed formal complaints from the Nigerian Airport Authority (NPA) over the persistent illegal occupation of its facilities by criminal elements and commercial bus operators, in violation of existing regulations.
Taofiq said the NPA raised concerns about growing disorder around the airport, citing repeated incidents of harassment, intimidation, and the dispossession of unsuspecting members of the public of their belongings. The activities, he noted, had become a major nuisance within the airport corridor.
During the operation, LASTMA officers came under attack but exercised restraint despite severe provocation and threats to their lives and public assets, leading to the arrest of seven suspects.
The suspects were arraigned on Tuesday before the Chief Magistrate of the Lagos State Mobile Court on four-count charges. One of the defendants, who pleaded not guilty, was granted bail, while the remaining six were ordered to be remanded in custody. The case has been adjourned until February 19, 2026, for further hearing.
Reaffirming the state government’s position, Bakare-Oki said Lagos would continue to protect critical public infrastructure, ensure the safety of road users, and maintain law and order across the metropolis.
He warned that the government would not tolerate violence or criminality, stressing that all acts of lawlessness would be met with the full force of the law.
The statement added that the operation also led to the impoundment of 56 vehicles for various traffic and environmental violations, including 44 commercial buses, five private vehicles, and seven trucks.
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