Festac-Alakija Link Bridge Vandalised, 27 Miscreants Arrested

Miscreants have vandalized a section of the newly constructed bridge linking Festac Town to Alakija, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

This was revealed in images released by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, TOKUNBO WAHAB.

Photos and videos shared on WAHAB’s social media handles show that miscreants living under the bridge dug out the pilling at the base of the bridge to make room for themselves.

In the accompanying message, TOKUNBO WAHAB said the miscreants damaged “critical structural components of the bridge by removing iron rods, steel reinforcements, cables, and other supporting materials essential to the integrity of the infrastructure”.

WAHAB noted that “the criminal act of the miscreants poses a serious threat to public safety and undermines the government’s investment in critical infrastructure”.

He said following the discovery, a joint midnight enforcement operation was carried out in the area, involving officers of the Rapid Response Squad and the Kick Against Indiscipline.

The Commissioner said the operation led to the arrest of twenty-seven suspected hoodlums, who he said would be prosecuted in accordance with the extant laws of Lagos State.

TOKUNBO WAHAB said the operation was conducted in line with the directive of Governor BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU to rid the Lagos-Badagry Transnational Highway of all forms of infractions.

These include environmental pollution, illegal motor parks, roadside trading, and market displays on highway setbacks and pedestrian walkways, enforcement operations uncovered a disturbing act of vandalism.

He said the Lagos State Government remained committed to protecting public infrastructure and will continue to take decisive action against individuals or groups engaged in acts of vandalism, environmental infractions, and other criminal activities that threaten the safety and wellbeing of residents.