TASK FORCE ARRESTS 138 COUNCIL AGENTS, OTHERS The Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement Unit) has arrested no fewer than 138 local government revenue collectors and other gangsters. Task force Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman, said the move was a continuation of government’s determination to rid the roads and streets of the state of hoodlums who harassed innocent people and extorted money from them. He said, “The way out is to keep arresting them and enforcing the laws of the state against criminal elements in the society. “Apart from those who are touts, a few of the hoodlums we arrested claimed to be local government revenue agents. “It is illegal for them to collect revenue on the highways. They call themselves local government traffic officers. The task force clamped down on them. “Since these arrests, no local government has come forward to say they are their agents.” It was learnt that no fewer than 66 of the hoodlums had been sentenced to three months imprisonment by the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Alausa, Ikeja, while others were pending. Sulaiman said the 138 hoodlums were arrested in different parts of the state last week while “terrorising innocent people and extorting money from them.” He said, “They were arrested in places like Oshodi, Egbeda, Igando, Suru Alaba, Ojuelegba, Orile Iganmu, Cele, Ijesha, Ojota, Costain, Mushin and Mile 2. “On Monday, June 10, 34 hoodlums, including seven children were arrested in Oshodi. The seven children were taken to the Lagos State Remand Home to be rehabilitated, while the others were charged to court. “The following day, 28 more hoodlums were arrested during a raid at Egbeda area of the state and also charged to court. “On Thursday, 13 June, 76 hoodlums were arrested at different parts of the state. Upon screening, 16 of them were left off the hook as they were found to be innocent while the remaining 60 were charged to court.” Sulaiman said the task force would continue to arrest hoodlums on a daily basis across the metropolis. He, however, lamented that such gangs were still springing up despite the arrests. He said activities of the hoodlums often caused gridlock on the highways.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:13:15 +0000
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