Lagos: Traffic hawkers vanish from Maryland after Ambode warning

*At least 6 KAI vehicles followed by armed policemen were seen patrolling the areas between Maryland and Allen on Monday afternoon.*

After the Lagos State government warned it would begin a massive enforcement of anti-street trading laws, hawkers who usually sell goods whenever traffic builds up in Maryland have disappeared.

Save for a bicycle-riding yogurt seller seen fearfully standing at the bus stop, there was no hawker in sight when our correspondent visited Maryland on Monday afternoon.

At least six Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) vans loaded with the officers in green were seen in the area. A police patrol vehicle occupied by three policemen was with the KAI “convoy”. Two of them, seated at the back of the vehicle, were armed with rifles.

Ambode said he wants to help traffic hawkers "graduate to something more meaningful". — *Ambode said he wants to help traffic hawkers “graduate to something more meaningful”.*

The KAI “convoy” moved all the way to Allen Roundabout. Although there was heavy traffic enroute Allen, no traffic hawker was seen during the time our correspondent followed the KAI officers.

“We will be watching out for buyers and sellers (during vehicular traffic) and all we need is just scapegoat,” state governor Akinwunmi Ambode had warned.

“Don’t buy plantain chips or any other item in traffic from July 1, buyers beware.

*BRT buses came under attack after the tragic death of the Maryland traffic hawker.*

“The issue is we need to enforce our laws because we already have a law in respect of that and then there is a clause in it which says the buyer and the seller are both liable and that we are going to fine them either N90,000 or a six month jail term,” he said.

It is unclear if a part of the law limiting the movement of street hawkers will also be enforced.

The massive enforcement came after the death of a traffic hawker triggered a violent protest along Ikorodu highway.

The hawker was allegedly chased into the path of a speeding vehicle by KAI officials who were trying to arrest him.

The government said at least 49 BRT buses were vandalised by protesters suspected to be traffic hawkers. They thought their colleague was run over by a BRT bus. The government said it was a soft drinks truck..