Lagos Taskforce Arrests Suspected ‘Omotaku’ Street Urchins in Lekki Clampdown

Lagos Taskforce has arrested suspected ‘Omotaku’ Street urchins in Lekki clampdown.

 

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Lagos State Taskforce has launched a renewed crackdown on suspected street urchins popularly known as “Omotaku,” arresting several suspects during an enforcement operation in the Lekki area of Lagos.

 

According to the agency, the arrests were made at Marwa Bus Stop during a routine monitoring patrol aimed at curbing criminal activities linked to street gangs and other miscreants operating in the area.

 

Officials said the suspects were apprehended after allegedly confronting a truck driver whose vehicle had broken down. The group reportedly attempted to extort the driver, threatening to remove the vehicle’s battery, side mirrors, and jack while demanding his phone and money.

 

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Operatives of the Lagos State Taskforce responded swiftly to the incident and arrested the suspects following intelligence reports and complaints from motorists and residents about recurring cases of theft, harassment, and extortion along the corridor.

 

Authorities noted that the area had previously been flagged by concerned road users as a hotspot for criminal activities involving the so-called Omotaku street groups.

 

The operation forms part of the second phase of an ongoing enforcement campaign coordinated by the Chairman of the agency, Adetayo Akerele, aimed at enforcing the government’s zero-tolerance policy against criminal elements in the state.

 

Following the raid, officials said normalcy has been restored in the affected areas, assuring residents and motorists of sustained patrols to prevent a resurgence of such activities.

 

The agency added that all suspects arrested during the operation would be charged in court in line with provisions of the Lagos State Special Offences Law.

 

The statement announcing the operation was issued by Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, Director of Public Affairs of the Lagos State Taskforce, on April 2, 2026.