Lagos, March 23, 2026 (NAN) The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) says it has apprehended five suspected hoodlums, popularly called ‘Omotaku’ over alleged extortion.
The suspects were alleged to have extorted motorists on the Aboru and Abule-Egba axis of the Abeokuta Expressway.
Chairman of the taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, by its spokesperson, Mr Gbadeyan Abdulraheem.
Akerele said that the suspects, aged between 23 and 38 years, were apprehended following a tip-off from the agency’s hotline.
He said that the arrest followed sustained surveillance and intelligence gathering.
According to him, the group specialized in targeting motorists whose vehicles broke down on busy highways.
“Investigations revealed that the suspects posed as roadside mechanics, offering assistance to stranded drivers before allegedly turning on them.
“They intimidate victims and demand money, threatening to tamper with vehicle parts such as batteries, if their demands were not met, ” he said.
The chairman said that the suspects had long been on their watchlist, following repeated complaints from the public about their activities.
Akerele described the suspects as daredevils who exploited vulnerable motorists for financial gain.
“Their primary targets are trucks and vehicles conveying goods; They approached victims under the guise of providing mechanical assistance before resorting to threats and extortion.
“Other members of the group played supporting roles, including blocking drivers from accessing their vehicles and removing side mirrors to create panic and force compliance, ” he said.
He consequently, urged residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies, emphasizing that criminal activities would not be tolerated in the state. (NAN)
