By Abigail Philip David
The Lagos State Government has condemned what it describes as an “unprovoked attack” on officers of the Environmental Sanitation Corps, known as KAI, by Nigerian Army personnel in the Yaba area.
In a statement on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, reported that the incident occurred while KAI officers were performing their official duties. He indicated that the attack was directed by Major Adebiyi and Captain Gowon.
Wahab expressed gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General T. Lagbaja, and the Director of Chaplain Services, Lt. Col. T.E. Ogbonyomi, for their rapid intervention, which helped de-escalate the situation.
“The KAI officers were lawfully engaged in their duties when they faced an unprovoked attack,” Wahab stated. “Thanks to the swift actions of military leadership, KAI officers can continue their work without further disruption, highlighting that military personnel must adhere to civil authority in their operations.”
He emphasized that such attacks on law enforcement would not be tolerated: “We strongly condemn this unwarranted assault on our officers executing their lawful duties. Moving forward, we will not accept such acts.”
Wahab reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining a cleaner Lagos by ensuring adherence to safety and sanitation standards.
In a related incident last month, a suspect was apprehended for allegedly assaulting a civilian staff member of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources while resisting arrest. This occurred when officials confronted the suspect for defecating near the median of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
