Police arrest 10 as vandals steal 1,800 manholes on coastal highway
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 10 suspects allegedly linked to the repeated vandalism and theft of public infrastructure on the newly constructed Lagos Coastal Road.
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing and parade of suspects at the command headquarters, Ikeja.
He said the suspects were arrested on August 17, 2026, following intelligence gathered during investigations into the vandalism of the road infrastructure.
The CP added that vandalised iron materials were recovered from the suspects during the arrest.
He identified the suspects as Courage Ogbemudiah, 19; Michael Janes, 25; Muhammed Mustapha, 25; Muyideen Ola, 32; Emmanuel James, 18; Tadious Nanius, 28; Anthony Nucase, 23; Makinde Muize, 30; Bolaji Raji, 30; and Waliu Kabiru, 28.
“Vandalised iron materials were recovered during the operation. Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects are linked to the incessant vandalism of the Coastal Road infrastructure. The suspects have also made statements regarding their alleged involvement in the offence,” the police boss added.
He also noted that the command was working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that those responsible for the continued destruction and theft of public infrastructure are brought to justice.
Tijani said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects were connected to the incessant vandalism of the Coastal Road infrastructure and had made statements regarding their alleged involvement.
“The command is working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that those responsible for the continued destruction and theft of public infrastructure are brought to justice,” he said.
In a related development, the CP said a 28-year-old man, Chidiebere Ochiri, was arrested for allegedly vandalising and stealing government-installed CCTV camera cables, irons and other infrastructure on the Third Mainland Bridge.
He said, “During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the vandalisation and carted away cables connecting CCTV cameras, and some irons installed along the bridge and its environs. The suspect further stated that he had been involved in the activity for several months and usually sold the vandalised copper wires to scavengers and scrap dealers at about N12,000 per kilogramme. One quantity of copper wire was recovered as an exhibit.”
Tijani said the investigation was ongoing to arrest the suspect’s alleged accomplice.
Meanwhile, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, who represented the Minister of Works and Housing, Dave Umahi, disclosed the extent of the damage suffered by the coastal road project.
Dare said no fewer than 1,800 manhole covers had been stolen from the superhighway between January and August 2026.
He explained that the manhole covers formed part of the underground drainage system constructed along the road, adding that vandals break the concrete covers to remove the reinforcing irons inside them.
Dare added that the vandals had also removed about 1,000 metres of the clear-view fence installed on both sides of the road to separate the highway from surrounding communities.
He said, “If you go to Coastal Road, the drainage system we have there is an underground drainage system, but at the ground level of it, you have what we call manhole covers.
“We use manholes to cover the drainage. So what happened is that between January and now, we have 1,800 of these manholes that have been stolen- 1,800 of them- and what they do, what these vandals do, is to break the concrete cover and remove the reinforcement that is in it.
“You know that this manhole is just small; it’s less than one metre by one metre, and so when they remove the concrete, they break it and remove the iron that is inside. That is not all. We have this clear view fence.
“If you go to Coastal Road, on both sides, it’s made of iron. Clear view fence on the right-hand side, clear view fence on the left-hand side to screen the community away from the Coastal Road. So we have a situation whereby these criminal elements, they go there, and they remove. And between January and now, 1,000 metres, which is one kilometre, of this clear view fence have been vandalised, have been taken away.”
Dare added that about 75 directional signs installed along the road had also been cut down and stolen.
The Federal Controller expressed concern over the continued vandalism, saying the destruction of the infrastructure was undermining the purpose of the newly constructed road.
He said the authorities were concerned about the scale of the vandalism and were working with the police to address the situation.
“We will not relent on our horse. We will not watch as these criminal elements, these few criminal elements, come and disturb what the federal government is doing. A lot of money is being pumped into that project.
“We all know, in trillions, that’s the truth, not billions, in trillions, from here to Calabar. And so, some people are determined to come and vandalise some of this. It is impossible.
“Again and again, I would want to thank the Lagos State Commissioner very, very highly for deploying men and women, vehicles, in addition to the few we also have there; they deployed their vehicles, they deployed the men of the Nigerian police there, to ensure that these criminal elements are brought to hook. Day and night, they are there on the road,” he added.
