Suspects allegedly stripped parts from a stranded company vehicle and demanded N30,000 from the driver
The Lagos State Taskforce on Thursday arrested two suspected street urchins, popularly known as “Omotaku,” at the Oshodi underbridge, inward Iyana-Ipaja, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, in connection with extortion and harassment of a motorist.
The Agency’s Director of Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said the arrests were part of the Agency’s zero-tolerance stance on criminal elements in the State.
“In continuation of the Agency’s zero-tolerance stance on criminal elements in the State, particularly street urchins popularly known as ‘Omotaku,’ a new brand of area boys, the Agency today arrested two Omotaku boys at Oshodi underbridge,” Abdulraheem said.
According to Abdulraheem, a company driver whose vehicle had broken down at the location was confronted by a group of suspected Omotaku boys. The group reportedly threatened the driver and the company’s transport manager with cutlasses and other dangerous objects.
“The driver and the manager parted with N15,000 for their release,” he said.
He added that the ordeal did not end there. Another set of Omotaku, comprising Toheeb Bashiru, 22, and Damilola Wasiu, of No. 25 High Yellow Street, Ojuore, Ota, Ogun State, allegedly came on board and harassed the driver again.
“They removed his vehicle battery, side mirrors and jack, while demanding N30,000 for their release or that he part with his phones,” Abdulraheem stated.
Abdulraheem said the suspects’ luck ran out when Taskforce operatives, who were on routine monitoring patrol and acting on intelligence, responded swiftly to the scene.
“Luck ran against them when Taskforce operatives, who were on routine monitoring patrol and acting on intelligence, responded swiftly and apprehended the two suspects in connection with the crime,” he said.
He explained that the Oshodi underbridge had earlier been flagged by concerned motorists and residents over recurring cases of vehicle parts theft, extortion and harassment by the street urchins.
“Consequently, the Agency took the bull by the horns and raided the area to curb these criminal activities,” Abdulraheem said.
The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, said continuous raids and renewed enforcement operations form part of the Agency’s ongoing efforts to ensure compliance and enforce zero tolerance for criminality in the State.
Abdulraheem confirmed that all the suspects would be charged to court in line with the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law and the Special Offences Law.
