Task Force raids Oshodi, arrest 83 hoodlums

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowopejo

Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences, yesterday, paraded 84 suspected hoodlums from the popular Oshodi Bus Stop, Oshodi local government, as part of efforts to flush out criminals from the area in particular and the state in general.

The miscreants, who were currently being detained pending their trial at the Special court, Alausa, were arrested at about 5:00 am during a raid of the area.

The 84 miscreants paraded by the taskforce, include: 30 under-aged male children who would be transfered to one of the Lagos State Correctional Centers for Boys for rehabilitation and 10 persons who have been arrested over three times by the taskforce, were also re-arrested.

*File photo: Policemen

*File photo: Policemen

Tajudeen Yusuf, one of the miscreants who was arrested with pistol, claimed that he was arrested while relaxing with his friends at the Heritage park.

Yusuf, 20-year-old, stated that the pistol found on him doesn’t belong to him, saying “I saw the gun on the floor at the garage. I don’t know the owner of the gun.”

He added, “I have not seen gun since I was born. I don’t know where they sell it. I’m a professional barber who owns a shop in the market.”

Another suspect, Wasiu Fashola, 16-year-old, from Ogun State, said he left home November 1, 2012, in the company of his friend, saying, “I left home after my mother disowned me.”

Earlier, the Taskforce Chairman, Supol Bayo Sulaimon said that the taskforce moved into the area at about 4:30 am and effected the arrest of the miscreants.

“We arrested one of the miscreats with a toy gun which he uses to attack commutters at the Bus Stop. Who will see this in the dark and will not believe that it is not a gun?” the chairman asked.

Sulaimon lamented that the large percentage of the under-aged miscreants  leave their homes without their parents’ consent, adding “they come to motor parks and garages and any available open space and turn it into homes.”

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