The Lagos State Taskforce has arrested 281 street urchins, popularly known as Omotaku, for harassing stranded motorists in a statewide crackdown on major highways along the Lekki, Ikoyi, and Ojuelegba axis.
This was disclosed in a statement shared on Saturday via X by Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
According to the statement, the suspects were arrested for the extortion and harassment of commuters at various blackspots, following numerous complaints from motorists.
“In continuation of the clean-up enforcement operations and its commitment to rid the State of criminal elements and street urchins popularly known as Omotaku, who terrorise Lagos motorists and force them to part with their hard-earned money, the Lagos State Taskforce have arrested a total of 281 suspects across the state.
“The areas covered during the week-long operations included Lekki Phase 1, Ikoyi, Lekki–Ajah Expressway, Bourdillon, Animashahun busstop, Akowonjo road, Egbeda, Fadeyi busstop, Costain, Funsho Williams Avenue, Victoria Island, Apongbon, Jibowu, Yaba Phase 1, Lagos Island Palmgrove, Ojuelegba road, Surulere and other adjoining roads on both Island and Mainland where the presence of undesirable elements popularly known as Omotaku and other street urchins was observed”, the statement read.
