The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested six suspects linked to a feared “one-chance” robbery syndicate operating under Ijora Bridge, Lagos. The suspects were caught during a joint enforcement sweep targeting illegal garages, shanties, and criminal hideouts on Apapa Road, Costain, and the Ijora corridor.
Led by Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, the operation involved the Nigeria Police, MOPOL, Task Force, LAGESC, and the Nigerian Army. Seized items include 77 stolen mobile phones, two POS machines, wristwatches, and other valuables taken from unsuspecting commuters.
Investigations revealed that the Ijora under-bridge area had long been a criminal hub, sheltering illegal traders and “one-chance” robbers specialized in violent theft and dispossession. The team also confiscated adulterated diesel and expired snacks kept under unhygienic conditions, posing serious health risks.
More than 120 illegal shanties, including structures near St. Peter’s Catholic Nursery and Primary School, were demolished to reclaim urban order and safety.
LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, praised the inter-agency collaboration and urged Lagosians to stay vigilant, cooperate with authorities, and report suspicious acts.
The syndicate members are now in custody, awaiting prosecution.
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