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LAGOS – As part of concerted efforts aimed at restoring environmental sanity and promoting strict adherence to the State’s Environmental laws, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI effected the arrest and secured the subsequent prosecution of one Omotosho Nure, a defaulting highway crosser for his role in an attempted case of aggravated arson against an operative on duty in the Cele area of the State.

The Corps Marshal made this disclosure in a statement made available to press men at the Agency’s Command Headquarters, Bolade-Oshodi. According to him, ‘‘we must reiterate the need for Lagosians to embrace safety while accessing major highways in the State and the use of strategically-erected pedestrian bridges must be adhered to. Today, while enforcing the use of these bridges in the Cele area of the State, one defaulter doused our operative in fuel with intent to set ablaze, in a single case of aggravated arson while resisting arrest’’.

Cole revealed the identity of the attempted arsonist as Omotosho Nure, M, 39 who was presented before Senior Magistrate Adefuloye of the Oshodi Mobile Court for offences bordering on breach of peace, obstruction of lawful duty, unlawful assault which stands in contravention to Sections 168 (1), 168 (1) (d), 117 (1), 172 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, which he pleaded not guilty to, thereby bagging 6 months imprisonment.

The retired Major also hailed the judgment as a positive indicator aimed to deter subsequent defaulters from engaging in such unwholesome acts against government operatives going about lawful duties in activation of the THEMES+ agenda of Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu which seeks to make Lagos habitable for business.

Underscoring the need for Lagosians to cooperate with law enforcement agents, the KAI top man also sued for cooperation with operatives in the line of duty, just as he decried that resistance only complicates civil issues which snowballs into full-blown criminal cases that could result in jail term for defaulters.

In his final comments, the Corps Marshal sounded the charge for street traders in the habit of displaying wares for sale on road setbacks, lay-bys, medians, verges, medians, kerbs and verges to desist from engaging in environmentally-deterrent practices, maintaining that open urination and defecation remains banned and illegal in the State as defaulters would be made to face the law.