22 underage hoodlums and 35 others arrested in Lagos

In Oshodi, Lagos State, no fewer than 20 suspected underage hoodlums and 35 others have been arrested

It was learnt that the suspects were arrested by the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences Unit about 3.30am on Wednesday.

Task force chairman, Bayo Sulaiman, said the underage suspects fell within the ages of 14 and 17.

He added that among other suspects, one Segun Akinlade, was arrested last week, and sentenced to 24 hours community service by the state’s special offences court.

Sulaiman, a Chief Superintendent of Police, lamented that underage children had continued to flood the state, adding that government agencies had not been able to establish the parentage of a large number of them.

He said the youngsters were behind many of the crimes in the Oshodi area of Lagos, adding that they were being groomed by the adult touts.

Sulaiman said the unit had handed over the underage touts to the Office of Youth and Social Department for rehabilitation.

He said, “Of course, the   underage touts will be taken to the family court first and if convicted, they will be taken to remand homes for rehabilitation. Government does not jail underage children as being speculated in some quarters.”

He added that government would rid Lagos of touts as their activities could no longer be condoned.

He said some of the under age children, who ran away from home, had been reunited with their families.