Fifteen people were arrested for allegedly blocking the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in the Ifo area of Ogun State. They are accused of flouting traffic and environmental laws by illegally displaying goods and erecting makeshift structures along the highway. DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, spokesman for the Ogun State Police Command, confirmed the arrests in a statement released Friday in Ota. He said the operation, part of a broader "No Traffic Gridlock" initiative, targeted persistent obstructions at Abekoko and Old Bank axis.
Police deployed officers from the Ifo Division to dismantle and remove planks, shanties, and seized wares. Over six trucks were used to evacuate the seized items. The operation followed a directive from Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, to ensure free movement of traffic and public order. Babaseyi stated that the 15 suspects defied lawful orders and will be charged to court after investigations. He added that CP Ojajuni has commended the officers involved and warned that anyone obstructing public roads will face legal consequences.
Arresting 15 traders for selling goods on a highway tells more about urban planning failure than law enforcement success. Bode Ojajuni's crackdown may clear the road today, but without designated market spaces, the same traders will return tomorrow. For Ogun residents, this is less about crime and more about the state's inability to accommodate informal commerce. Enforcement without infrastructure only shifts the problem, not solves it.
