Dare Babalola
A Lagos State Mobile Court has ordered the remand of six out of seven suspected miscreants arrested for allegedly leading a violent attack on officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other agencies during a midnight operation at Airport Road.
The seven suspects were brought before the Chief Magistrate of the Lagos State Mobile Court on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, facing four-count charges, a statement by Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, confirmed on Wednesday.
The statement said the court adjourned the case to February 19, 2026, for further hearing. One defendant was granted bail after pleading not guilty, while the other six were remanded in custody.
The midnight operation was led by LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, in collaboration with security agencies, KAI Corps, Lagos State Task Force, and LASTMA officials.
The operation followed numerous complaints from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) about repeated illegal activities and encroachment by criminal groups and bus operators, violating existing rules.
The management of the Nigerian Airport Authority claims the activities of these miscreants have escalated into a major public nuisance, causing harassment, intimidation, and theft along the airport corridor, tarnishing the image of the area.
“During the lawful execution of the enforcement operation, five officers of the joint task force were viciously attacked with dangerous weapons, while one of the Authority’s tow trucks was deliberately set ablaze by the rampaging miscreants in a desperate attempt to sabotage the exercise and brazenly challenge the authority of the State.
“Despite the severe provocation and imminent threat to life and public assets, officers of the joint enforcement team exhibited exceptional professionalism, commendable restraint and conspicuous courage in the face of the coordinated onslaught.
“In the course of the operation, a total of 56 vehicles were impounded for various traffic and environmental infractions, comprising 44 commercial buses, five private vehicles and seven trucks,” Taofiq said.
Speaking, Bakare-Oki, reiterated the unwavering resolve of the State to safeguard critical public infrastructure, guarantee the safety of all road users and uphold law and order across the metropolis.
He warned unequivocally that the Government would neither capitulate to intimidation nor tolerate violence from criminal elements, stressing that every act of lawlessness would be met decisively with the full weight of the law.
LASTMA Boss further assures members of the public that enforcement operations along critical and strategic corridors of Lagos will remain continuous, intensified and firmly anchored within the confines of the law, in close collaboration with sister agencies, to eradicate criminality, restore public order and safeguard lives and property.
