The suspects
Lagos
State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement)
Unit has arrested 183 suspected hoodlums in Oshodi and Mafoluku areas of
the state.
The arrest came four weeks after PUNCH Metro published its findings that Oshodi was gradually being overtaken by filth and criminals.
It was learnt that while 170 hoodlums were arrested at Oshodi, 13 were arrested at an abandoned pit toilet at Mafoluku.
Residents of the area alleged that the abandoned public toilet was being used as a hideout by the suspects.
PUNCH Metro gathered that 19
females were among the 170 hoodlums arrested in Oshodi. Two of them are
pregnant, three were nursing mothers, while two were underage.
Task force Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman, a
Chief Superintendent of Police, explained that the raid was meant to
discourage hoodlums from returning to Oshodi area, adding that 46 of
them had been arrested and jailed in the past.
He said, “The case of the 46 hoodlums who had been arrested in the past would be specially treated.
“I must also explain that among the suspects, we have 20 underage boys and eight underage girls.
“The underage hoodlums will be taken to the Lagos State Remand Home.”
Sulaiman also said the abandoned toilet
at Mafoluku was raided after a tip-off, saying two of the 13 hoodlums
arrested had been set free during screening.
“We also demolished the toilet to
prevent criminals from using the place as a hideout again. Indian hemp
was recovered at the abandoned toilet.
“We learnt that many women and girls had
been raped at the abandoned toilet because the vicinity was always dark
at night,” he said.
He said those arrested would be charged
to court to serve as a deterrent to other hoodlums and send a signal to
them that Lagos is not a haven for criminals.
PUNCH
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