Juliana Francis
The Lagos State Taskforce has refuted a report by Objectv alleging that its officials illegally stormed a compound and motorcycle garage during an enforcement operation in Ojo Local Government Area, insisting the raid was a lawful response to community complaints.
In a statement, the Taskforce’s Director of Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, dismissed the Objectv report as inaccurate and accused the outlet of a pattern of publishing unverified claims against the agency.
He said the report attempted to “misrepresent a legitimate enforcement action, incite the public against the agency, and cast aspersions on its leadership.”
According to Abdulraheem, the operation at Agric Farm Estate, near Agric Bus Stop, was neither random nor illegal but followed a formal petition from four Community Development Associations; Olugbemi, Habeeb, Aiyedoto, and Otubu addressed to Taskforce Chairman CSP Adetayo Akerele over the conduct of commercial motorcycle operators, known locally as Okada riders, in their neighbourhoods.
The petition reportedly detailed a range of grievances: riders using the estate as a base after working the highways, indiscriminate defecation near drains and green spaces along the Badagry Expressway, reckless riding, and blocked inner roads.
Community members also said some riders had injured residents, pedestrians, and schoolchildren.
The CDAs explained that they had tried to manage the situation themselves, including issuing estate-branded numbered vests so residents could identify and report offending riders.
Those efforts, they claimed, were sometimes met with resistance and attacks involving weapons.
The associations first petitioned the Lagos State Government through the Taskforce on May 23, 2026, and followed up with a reminder on July 30, 2026.
The agency said it carried out surveillance and assessment of the area before moving in on August 25, 2026.
Abdulraheem argued it was misleading to frame the raid as a spontaneous or unauthorised incursion onto private property, stressing that the arrests and motorcycle impoundments were part of a broader crackdown on illegal Okada operations on highways, bridges, and other restricted routes across Lagos State.
He said the agency’s mandate is to “protect public safety, maintain order, and ensure compliance with the laws of Lagos State.”
The statement also defended Chairman Akerele personally, noting his role in operations such as Operation Kó Ṣàyé, which it linked to a wider security push by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to close gaps criminals could exploit across the state.
Abdulraheem said the Taskforce “would not be swayed by personal attacks or sensational reporting,” and questioned why Akerele has repeatedly featured in Objectv’s coverage of enforcement actions.
The image manager urged media organisations and the public to verify facts before publishing allegations that could mislead the public or harm reputations, while acknowledging the media’s right to scrutinise government agencies.
He stated that such scrutiny should be grounded in fairness and accuracy.
“The Lagos State Taskforce will continue acting on petitions and intelligence concerning threats to public order, framing enforcement as a necessary, if sometimes unpopular, part of its statutory duties,” said Abdulraheem.
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