A Lagos State Miscellaneous Court has sentenced 279 persons, including five women, to various terms of imprisonment following a major security operation targeting suspected hoodlums, petty thieves, drug addicts and other miscreants across the state.
The convicts were arrested during coordinated raids carried out between Saturday and Sunday by operatives of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA) in several identified crime-prone locations.
According to authorities, those arrested were found operating under bridges, around markets, parks and other dark spots notorious for criminal activities.
Speaking on the development, the General Manager of the LNSA, Prince Ifalade Oyekan, said many of the convicts had no fixed addresses and posed significant security threats to residents.
“Most of those arrested have no known place of abode. They operate under bridges, in markets and parks, creating insecurity and endangering the lives and property of Lagosians,” Oyekan said.
He noted that the agency would intensify efforts to rid the state of criminal elements through closer collaboration with the police and other security agencies.
“Their activities have become a serious concern. Following the success of this operation, we will continue to work with other security agencies to ensure Lagos remains safe for all residents,” he added.
Oyekan disclosed that a large number of the suspects were apprehended in the Lekki area, where they had allegedly been involved in attacks on motorists and armed robbery operations during the night.
“Lagos will no longer tolerate their activities. We have to protect our people. The majority of them are from the North who have come to Lagos for the first time. They believe that once they get here, they will survive,” he stated.
The latest convictions form part of ongoing efforts by the Lagos State Government to tackle street crime and enhance public safety across the metropolis.
