The Chairman of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, CSP Adetayo Akerele, has vowed that the agency will intensify efforts to rid the state of environmental nuisances, insisting it will not bow to pressure from individuals seeking to undermine its operations.
This comes amid a viral video alleging misconduct by task force officials. However, the Nigeria Police Force has assured the public that the full facts surrounding the incident will be made known.
In the video, posted by ObjectvMedia, task force operatives were accused of unlawful arrest and extortion. It was alleged that an officer seized control of a driver’s vehicle, repositioned it on a one-way road to fabricate a traffic offence, and subsequently demanded payment.
The driver, seen in the footage, denied driving against traffic, while a narrator claimed he was detained and later imprisoned despite reaching out to the task force chairman, who allegedly promised to intervene.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Multi-Agency Safety Arena, Bolade, Oshodi, on Tuesday, Akerele dismissed the allegations, describing them as attempts to blackmail the agency.
“We will continue to rid the state of all forms of environmental nuisance and remain open to constructive suggestions from residents. However, we will not be cowed or distracted by selfish interests bent on derailing our mandate,” he said.
Akerele reiterated that the task force’s core mandate is to ensure a safe, orderly, and habitable environment through enforcement and public sensitisation.
He listed the agency’s operations to include raids on criminal hideouts, removal of street traders, enforcement against open defecation, dismantling of illegal structures, and traffic control, including clampdown on one-way driving and illegal commercial motorcycle operations.
Addressing the controversy, the chairman alleged that the accuser resorted to blackmail after the agency declined a request to release a seized vehicle.
“On two occasions, the individual contacted me, wrongly attributing an enforcement operation by another agency to the task force and demanding the release of a vehicle seized for traffic violations.
“When it became clear he was mistaken, he resorted to blackmail, alleging that our officers hijacked a vehicle and falsely accused the driver. That claim is untrue,” he said.
He maintained that the driver involved in the incident violated traffic laws and was lawfully arrested.
“No individual is above the law, and personal interests cannot override that of the general public,” Akerele added.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to restoring order across the state and urged residents to comply with environmental and traffic regulations.
Meanwhile, the Force New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, said accountability and transparency remain central to police operations.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Giwa acknowledged public concerns over the incident and assured that a thorough investigation was ongoing.
“The reactions to the Ikorodu incident have been strong and understandable. Your concerns are valid, and your scrutiny is welcome. That is how it should be,” he stated.
“Under this leadership, accountability is non-negotiable, and transparency is not optional. All the facts will be made available. You deserve nothing less.”
Giwa added that while a preliminary update had been released due to public pressure, conclusions should not be drawn solely from the viral clip.
“A short video, however compelling, rarely tells the full story. The facts must emerge through proper investigation and due process. This is not a call to look away, but a call to look deeper,” he said.
