Lagos Cracks Down on Street Hoodlums, Beggars, Jails 26
Lagos Cracks Down on Street Hoodlums, Beggars, Jails 26
As part of a continuous crackdown throughout Lagos, the State Government has secured a three-month prison sentence for 26 members of the infamous ‘Omotaku’ gang and taken 115 street beggars into custody.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, shared these developments via a social media post on X this Monday.
The report noted that the enforcement sweeps took place in various parts of the city, aimed at reclaiming public spaces and restoring general decorum.
“A total of 115 street beggars were arrested today across various locations in the state during the ongoing enforcement operations,” the statement said.
It added that 26 members of the ‘Omotaku’ group, apprehended from different parts of the state within the last 24 hours, were arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Oshodi.
“In addition, 26 members of the notorious ‘Omotaku’ group apprehended from different parts of Lagos within the last 24 hours were arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Oshodi,” the statement read.
The commissioner noted that the suspects admitted to the legal counts brought against them and were sentenced by the court.
“The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them and were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in accordance with the law,” the statement said.
Wahab emphasized that these measures highlight the administration’s commitment to eradicating activities that jeopardize environmental standards and public security.
“This action reinforces the state government’s firm stance against activities that threaten public safety, order, and the effective use of public spaces,” the statement added.
The commissioner also promised the public that these cleanup exercises would persist throughout Lagos to uphold law and order.
“Enforcement efforts will continue across the state to ensure compliance with existing laws and to maintain a safe and orderly environment for all Lagosians,” the statement said.
This follows a previous report by PUNCH Online regarding the apprehension of 281 other street urchins, also linked to the ‘Omotaku’ group, during a massive week-long sweep.
That wider operation spanned numerous major hubs, including Lekki, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Surulere, and various key transit points across both the Island and Mainland regions.
Wahab clarified that the fundamental goal of these interventions is to keep “roads and public spaces clear, reducing safety risks to motorists and pedestrians, and maintaining environmental sanity in the state.”
