By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Lagos State Government on Monday arrested a woman for allegedly directing her child to dump refuse into a drainage channel in Shomolu, while the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) suspended a street sweeper over an alleged assault on a passerby.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, identified the suspect as Mrs. McCarthy of No. 56 Adaranijo Street, Pedro, Shomolu.
He said she instructed her child to dump refuse into a covered drainage channel in violation of the state’s environmental laws.
Wahab said enforcement officers arrested the woman after investigating a report of the incident.
He urged residents to dispose of waste properly and educate their children on protecting public infrastructure, warning that actions contributing to blocked drains and environmental degradation would not be tolerated.
In a related development, LAWMA on Monday announced the suspension of a street sweeper following her alleged involvement in the assault of a female passerby at the Abraham Adesanya area of Lagos.
LAWMA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, described the incident as unfortunate and unacceptable, stressing that the authority maintains zero tolerance for violence and misconduct.
According to preliminary reports, the altercation occurred between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2026, before escalating into a physical confrontation.
The injured woman was taken to hospital for treatment, while the suspect was apprehended by members of the public and handed over to officers at Ajiwe Police Station.
Gbadegesin said the operative had been suspended from sanitation duties, her uniform withdrawn, and that LAWMA would cooperate fully with the police investigation while taking any further disciplinary action deemed necessary.
He wished the injured woman a speedy recovery and reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to professionalism, discipline and high standards in the delivery of environmental sanitation services.