Joy Anyim
Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Task Force) have arrested 26 members of the dreaded Awawa cult group in the Agege area of Lagos.
Chairman of the Agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, who revealed this, disclosed that 64 miscreants were also arrested at Oshodi.
Egbeyemi said the 26 dreaded Awawa cultists were arrested during an all night enforcement operations tagged ‘Operation Restore Sanity to Lagos’.
Speaking on the activities of the dreaded group, the chairman said the criminal activities perpetuated by the various cults had become a serious threat to lives of residents and innocent members of the public.
He said, “The raid was carried out around ‘Isale-oja’, ‘Funmilayo’, ‘ile-pako at Amoo’, ‘Orile by cannal’, ‘Papa-Ashafa’, ‘Dopemu’ and ‘Old Oko-oba’ in Agege.
“The activities of these miscreants, had become an eye-sore. These miscreants and cultists robbed, raped and freely smoked Indian hemp with under age boys and girls during day time and at night.
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“They were also attacking and breaking motorists windscreen and disturbing innocent members of the public by dispossessing them of thier valuables such as phones, wallets and jewelleries around Oshodi.
“ Dangerous weapons and substance suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from these miscreants which include 3 female teenagers. ”
Lamenting the decay in the society, Egbeyemi said, “It is disheartening that most parents have abdicated their responsibility towards their children as youths are now found to be deeply involved in gangsterism”
“Honestly, most of the violent crime committed across the State were perpetrated by youths who lacks parental care and joined cultism to avoid being intimidated by their peers”
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police CP Zubairu Muazu has however directed that all those arrested be charged to court for prosecution.
In a related development, the Agency dislodged more than 1,500 llegal traders and impounded 96 motorcycles for plying restricted routes around Igando.
This Egbeyemi said the act was to pave ways for free flow of traffic as there were serious complaints by residents and motorists about the newly constructed roads being taken over by activities of these illegal traders.
“Strategically, this unusual and very risky trading practice has led to the death of some traders especially those who were not quick enough to depart the scene of reckless drivers,” he said.
CSP Egbeyemi maintained that in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Laws, it was completely unlawful for anyone to hawk, buy or sell goods on railway tracks, road-setbacks, walk-ways and drainage alignment across the State.
