The Lagos State Taskforce has arrested 32 street urchins, popularly known as Omotaku, for allegedly causing public nuisance and obstructing traffic on major highways across the state.
The agency, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Raheem Gbadeyan, on Monday, stated that the suspects were apprehended during a coordinated enforcement operation carried out on Tuesday across the Island and Mainland following complaints by residents over the activities of the miscreants.
He added that the operation, which was part of the Taskforce’s ongoing clean-up exercise, covered areas such as Apongbon, Fadeyi, Jibowu, Yaba Phase 1, Lagos Island, Palmgrove, Ojuelegba, and Surulere, among other adjoining roads.
“In these locations, the Taskforce observed the illegal activities of these miscreants who were unlawfully stopping articulated vehicles such as petroleum tankers, lorries, trucks, trailers, and private cars.
“During the raid, a total of 32 suspects were apprehended for constituting public nuisance, illegal road obstruction, and violating the Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, as well as the Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017. Some of the suspects were also found to be smoking substances suspected to be hard drugs and Indian hemp,” the statement added.
According to him, the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, said the agency remained committed to ensuring public safety across the state.
“We will not relent in our efforts to comb all nooks and crannies of Lagos to rid the state of criminal elements and other undesirable activities on our roads,” Akerele was quoted as saying.
He added that the operation restored sanity to the affected areas while the suspects had been charged in court.
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