Lagos Shuts Oshodi Market after Traders Attack Task Force Officials

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Jun 23, 2026 #environmental enforcement Lagos, #LAGESC, #Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, #Lagos market enforcement, #Lagos sanitation operation, #Lagos shuts Oshodi market, #Lagos State Government, #Oshodi Resettlement Market closure, #Oshodi traders attack officials, #Tokunbo Wahab

Femi Ashekun/

The Lagos State Government has shut down the Oshodi Resettlement Market following an attack on officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) during an enforcement operation in the area.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the closure in a statement on social media, saying traders at the market obstructed officials carrying out their duties and attacked personnel during an operation aimed at apprehending hoodlums and beggars.

According to Wahab, the incident occurred after LAGESC operatives moved into the area to enforce environmental and public order regulations.

He said the officials were prevented from arresting suspected hoodlums and beggars, while operational vehicles belonging to the agency were vandalised.

“As a result of the attack on government officials and the disruption of lawful enforcement activities, the Oshodi Resettlement Market has been shut down,” Wahab stated.

The commissioner said the state government would not tolerate assaults on law enforcement and environmental officials, stressing that agencies of government must be allowed to perform their statutory duties without intimidation or interference.

LAGESC, formerly known as the Kick Against Indiscipline Brigade, is one of the agencies responsible for enforcing environmental sanitation laws in Lagos State.

Its duties include tackling street trading, environmental violations, public nuisance and other activities considered detrimental to public order.

The closure is the latest in a series of enforcement actions undertaken by the Lagos State Government against markets and commercial centres found to be in breach of environmental regulations or obstructing government operations.

Earlier this year, authorities sealed the Ladipo Spare Parts Market in Mushin over alleged environmental infractions, including indiscriminate refuse disposal and illegal street trading.

The government has repeatedly maintained that market operators and traders must comply with environmental and public safety regulations, warning that facilities found violating the law risk sanctions ranging from fines to outright closure.

As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Government had not indicated when the Oshodi Resettlement Market would be reopened, while there was no immediate reaction from market leaders regarding the allegations made by the authorities.