The Kick Against Indiscipline KAI has refuted the contents of a viral video on Facebook where a female street trader at OYINGBO market accused the officers of sexual harassment while dislodging street traders, saying the clearance operation was duly authorized to dislodge traders who have completely taken over the walkway opposite the market after repeated warnings.
In a statement by the KAI Corps Marshal, Mrs Gbemi Akinpelu (CP rtd), the agency said the female trader was only trying to whip up sentiments to deter the agency from carrying its duties.
She added that investigation revealed that the said woman has constituted a nuisance on the main road with open display of her wares and also extended it to the walkway.
Mrs AKINPELU revealed that in-house investigation revealed that it is the stock in trade of the particular woman to cry wolf when there was none, as similar allegations of KAI operatives pestering her for love has led to redeploying of 3
Different sectional heads until investigations revealed her motive.
We wish to state in clear terms that the reclacitrant street trader and several others flouted the Lagos Environmental Management Protection Law by erecting a wooden kiosk with intent to display raw foodstuffs for sale on the walkway at Oyingbo, thereby impeding vehicular and human movement in the area.
As the premier environmental enforcement Agency set up by the Lagos State Government under the Ministry of Environment to rid the State of environmental nuisances and responding to complaints from motorists and pedestrians, we swung into action to enforce the State’s law by dislodging the street traders.
It is imperative to note that the incident/operation which took place on Monday 17th, April, 2023 was a fall out of the stakeholders meeting held on Saturday 15th April ,2023 which had in attendance stakeholders which included the Vice chairman of Lagos Mainland local Government, Hon Jibril Emilagba, Iyaloja of Oyingbo market and other stakeholders in which a resolution was reached for all make-shift shops selling on the median,drainages and set backs be evacuated on Monday 17th April, 2023.
The said woman who remains unidentified harassed our corps officers on lawful duty as she filmed to attract sympathy and incite mob action. Our officers who are trained in line with global best practices reported back to the headquarters for further instructions.
The authorities of Lagos Mainland Local Government and the Iyaloja of OYINGBO are on the same page with KAI on this issue and has promised not to allow any street traders return to the cleared points both in front of the OYINGBO market and along the road to enable free flow of traffic
Ajayi Lukman
Head, Public Affairs
LAGESC