The Lagos State Taskforce has said it would prosecute the 28 miscreants arrested in some parts of the state for terrorizing and extorting motorists.
According to the PUNCH, the agency’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, in a statement on Tuesday, noted that the miscreants are in the habit of extorting motorists whose vehicles break down on the highway under the guise of collecting ‘owo omotaku,’ literally meaning “breakdown money.”
He said a raid on areas such as Mile 2, Alaba Rago, FESTAC, Apapa, and the surrounding environments led to the arrest of the miscreants.
He continued, “The arrested group, popularly known as ‘Omotaku,’ has long been a menace to innocent motorists, forcing them to part with large sums of money when their vehicles break down on the highway.”
Reacting to the arrest, the Chairman of the agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, noted that the operation was a step in the right direction that would ensure relief for motorists and residents who have undergone much trauma as a result of the activities of the group.
Akerele, who spoke through Gbadeyan, noted that the miscreants would be charged in court while stressing the agency’s commitment to mopping up others engaging in such acts.
He said, “The Lagos State Taskforce remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents, and we will continue in our efforts to rid the metropolis of those who prey on law-abiding citizens.
“We will not rest until every member of the Omotaku gang is arrested and made to answer for their crimes. All 28 suspects apprehended will be charged to court immediately.”
The spokesperson, however, urged the public to report suspicious activities in their areas through its “See Something, Say Something” initiative, stressing that a “collaboration between the public and the agency remains key to keeping the city safe, serene, and habitable.”
