Five arrested for open defecation on Lagos Island

At least five persons were arrested in the early hours of Thursday for allegedly defecating in public spaces in the Lagos Island area of the state.

The arrests come less than a week after the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed in an interview that about 275 residents had been arrested between January and March for open defecation despite the availability of 8,710 functional public toilets across the state.

Announcing the latest arrests in a video shared on his X handle on Thursday, Wahab said the suspects were apprehended during an early morning operation around Ebute Ero and its environs.

“The anti-open defecation squad was on early morning duty at Ebute Ero and environs in Lagos Island to curb open defecation and other environmental nuisances,” he said.

“Five defaulters were apprehended during the operation.”

According to the commissioner, the suspects were taken to the enforcement office at Sura-Simpson for further investigation.

He added that they would later be transferred to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps headquarters in Oshodi for prosecution in accordance with existing environmental laws.

Wahab said the operation forms part of the state government’s ongoing efforts to curb open defecation and improve sanitation across Lagos.

Society Reporters reports that the Lagos State Government has repeatedly warned residents and visitors to desist from open defecation.

Speaking in the earlier interview, Wahab said the government had established a task force that patrols daily to enforce sanitation laws.

“That’s why we have an open defecation task force. They go around at 3 am, 6 am and 7 am every day. We make arrests and take offenders to court daily, and we will not stop,” he said.