Cult leader, 75 others nabbed in Lagos
The Lagos State Taskforce has arrested the alleged ring leader of the ‘Omije Boys’ cult group Franklin Anyawun, and 75 other miscreants around the Oshodi and Iyana-Ipaja areas of the state.
The suspects, who were arrested during an enforcement operations tagged ‘Eradication of Criminal Hideouts,’ was carried out at mid-night on Saturday.
Anyawun, who is 28 years and lives at No. 11, Oremeji Street, Iyana-Ipaja was caught with Baggs of Indian hemp and confessed to have been terrorising and dispossessed innocent members of the public of their valuable items at Iyana-Ipaja and its environs.
He also confessed further to be selling illicit drugs to miscreants and hoodlums around Oshodi, Fadeyi, Idi-oro at Mushin and Bariga.
Similarly, another criminal, Olumide Sanni who is 19 years and specialises in snatching bags and phones from innocent members around Railway-lines at Oshodi was also arrested.
Olumide Sanni who hailed from ‘Oderemo’ in Ogun State made a confessional statement that the operatives of the Agency had arrested him three times for criminal activities around Oshodi.
According to the chairman of the taskforce, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, this development is coming shortly after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Imohimi Edgal had tasked the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force to ensure that all criminal hideouts/black-spots across the state are completely eradicated.
Speaking on the new mandate, SP Egbeyemi disclosed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, had instructed him and other Divisional Police Officers to wipe out all criminal elements from their hideouts across the state.
He stated that the new mandate is a proof that the Commissioner of Police is poised at tackling all criminal challenges and making sure that criminal elements are no longer allowed any free reign.
He said: “They will not be given freedom of space to practice any of their criminal acts.”
The Chairman listed areas to be raided as directed by the Commissioner of Police to includes Egbe-Idimu, Iyana-Ipaja (Abule-Oki & Car-wash), Ikotun, Mushin, Bariga, Apapa, Orile-Agege, Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Lagos-Island, Oshodi, Pen-cinema, Berger, Oyingbo, Mile 2, Fadeyi and Ojuelegba.
According to him, the government would not fold its arm and watch criminals destroying huge investment already expended on infrastructural development across the state.
He quoted the Commissioner of Police to have warned parents to always monitor their wards particularly during and after these ‘Ember-months’ as anyone caught engaging in any criminal acts such as selling/smoking illicit drugs, rape, robbery, cultism or any other nefarious activities would be prosecuted in accordance with Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Laws.
The Chairman enjoined criminal elements to turn a new leaf and get themselves meaningfully engaged in vocational skills such as tailoring, carpentry, shoe-making, electrical/electronics, beed-making etc at any of the government established vocational centres spread across the State.
SP Egbeyemi who confirmed that the enforcement operations is a continuous exercise however disclosed that the state Police Commissioner had directed that all those arrested 76 miscreants and hoodlums including Anyawun, the notorious cult leader be charge to court for prosecutions.
Joy Anyim
