Lagos Taskforce Arrests Three More Suspects for Harassing Commuters

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Taskforce has arrested three suspected hoodlums accused of targeting motorists with broken-down vehicles, as part of ongoing efforts to curb the menace known locally as “omotaku.”

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed in a post on Friday that the arrests were made on Thursday during coordinated operations at different locations.

According to him, taskforce operatives picked up the suspects at Palmgrove Bus Stop along Ikorodu Road and in the Oniru area, where they were allegedly attacking and extorting stranded drivers.

He explained that the suspects forcefully confronted their victims and would be prosecuted in court.

The arrests are part of a broader crackdown following a similar operation earlier in the week. During that exercise, officials responded to incidents at Marwa Bus Stop, where a truck driver with a faulty vehicle was reportedly harassed and threatened by individuals demanding money and valuables. Another incident was also recorded around Palmgrove, where suspected touts attempted to intimidate road users.

Wahab reiterated the state government’s resolve to stamp out such activities, assuring residents that enforcement operations would continue across key hotspots.

He emphasised that authorities remain focused on safeguarding motorists, maintaining order on the roads, and eliminating all forms of harassment and intimidation across Lagos.