6th November, 2012
At least 195 suspected hoodlums have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
The hoodlums, P.M.NEWS gathered were arrested at Obalende and Ijanikin areas of Lagos by the police at the weekend.
The suspected hoodlums were seen in large numbers at the office of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit on Monday.
P.M.NEWS observed that most of the suspected hoodlums were from northern Nigeria and were arrested under the bridge at Obalende by the police. A police source told P.M.NEWS that the suspected hoodlums would be screened to know those who were innocent and those with criminal tendency.
He said those suspected to be hoodlums would be arraigned in court and punished according to the dictates of the law. When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ngozi Braide confirmed the arrest, saying it was carried out by a joint operation between the police and other security agents.
She said there was a tip off on a criminal hideout under the bridge at Obalende, saying that the police and other security agents stormed the place and arrested the suspected hoodlums living under the bridge. Braide added that in the process of the raid, 30 unregistered motorcycles were also impounded.
According to her, those suspected to be criminals would be prosecuted in the court to serve as deterrence to others.
Braide stated that the raid was carried out based on intelligence report, but noted that it had nothing to do with any threat by Boko Haram.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga