The operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences at the weekend arrested 26 suspected members of Awawa cult gang in Agege area of Lagos State.
The agency also arrested 64 suspected miscreants at Oshodi, recovered arms, ammunition and bags of assorted drugs from the suspects.
The Chairman Lagos State Task Force, CSP. Olayinka Egbeyemi disclosed that the 26 ‘Awawa’ cult members were arrested during over-night enforcement operations tagged ‘Operation Restore Sanity to Lagos’ carried out around Isle-Oja, Funmilayo, Ile-pako at Amoo, Orile by the canal, Papa-Ashafa, Dopemu and Old Oko-oba in Agege.
The Chairman disclosed further that criminal activities perpetrated by various cult groups particularly the dreaded ‘Awawa’ cult gang have become a serious threat to lives of residents and other members of the public.
CSP Egbeyemi who described the activities of hoodlums, especially cultist as worse that evil said that it is disheartening to hear the gory tales on how they rob, rape and freely smoke Indian hemp in company with underaged boys and girls during the day and at night.
Egbeyemi stated further that outside the suspected cultists, 64 miscreants were arrested during a night raid around Oshodi.
He said dangerous weapons and substance suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from these 64 miscreants. He said three females teenagers were among the arrested hoodlums.
” The miscreants were those attacking/breaking motorists windscreen and disturbing innocent members of the public by dispossessing them of their valuables such as phones, wallets and jewellery around Oshodi.
“It is disheartening that most parents have abdicated their responsibility towards their children as youths are now found to be deeply involved in gangsterism”
“Honestly, most of the violent crime committed across the State were perpetrated by youths who lack parental care and joined a cult group to avoid being intimidated by their peers”
He said that ‘Operation Restore Sanity to Lagos’ would be a continuous exercise and extended to every other area known to be inhabited by undesirable elements across the State.
