the Agency vows to cripple their unlawful activities in the State.
Operatives of the Lagos State Taskforce have arrested notorious street urchins popularly known as Omotaku along Aboru, Abule-Egba- Abeokuta expressway. TBS and other area of the state.
The five suspects, Alade Olarewaju (M) 25 years, Oluwadamilare Alabi (M). 38yrs, Sunday Idowu( M) 32yrs, Rabiu Ibrahim(M)29yrs, and Raji Yusuf (M)23 who go about arresting unsuspecting motorists and extorting them of their hard earned money when their vehicle developed mechanical fault and broke down on the highway around Abule-Egba, Aboru, TBS area of the State.
The five of them were arrested today followed a tipoff through the agency hotlines, the agency operatives swung into action and apprehended the five suspects claiming to be assisting the motorists to fixed the broken down vehicle, while they tried to arrest and extort the motorist,but prevented from doing so when the motorist quickly reached out to the office of men of Lagos State Taskforce who confirmed they are Omotaku who had escaped arrest times without number before arresting them today.
Speaking on the incident, The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele disclosed that he has been on the trail of these boys for a very long time, due to the numerous reports he receives from members of the public about a group of daredevil boys around Abule-Egba axis who arrest motorists and start negotiating financial settlements in exchange of the release of their vehicle.
According to two of the suspects, Alade Olarewaju and Oluwadamilare Alabi their targets are usually vehicles conveying goods and Lorries which broke down on the highways,we approach them inform of roadside mechanic with legitimate duty to repaire their vehicles before we show them our true colour, we arrest them and threaten them with removal of their vehicle batteries before they part with some money.
The other suspects claims their role is to block the driver from entering the vehicle of their preys or remove side mirrors in order to create fear and panic in their hearts and subject them to negotiation.
The five suspects has been arraigned in court on the three counts charges of illegal collection of fees from driver of a broken down vehicle, willful obstruction of the driver’s of a broken down vehicle and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
“I urge members of the public to continue reporting any suspicious activities to the nearby Police Station or to the Agency through our feedback channels for prompt action. There is no more room for criminality in Lagos”, Akerele stated.
