The police in Lagos have arrested 10 suspected hoodlums in the Langbasa area of Ajah in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.
Herald Nigeria gathered that the suspects were arrested during mop-up operations carried out by the police in the area over the last few weeks.
Speaking on the activities of the criminals, a resident, Bukky Ayodeji, explained that they held the area hostage for a while before they were apprehended.
According to her, residents of the area dreaded late evening outings because of the activities of the hoodlums, who usually lurked around for their potential victims.
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She added that women were more vulnerable as the hoodlums attacked and robbed them of their cash, phones and other valuables, using knives and guns, noting that they raped some of their female victims.
Confirming the arrest, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, said some of the suspects had been charged to court.
The PPRO added that the Divisional Police Officer of the Langbasa Police Station, Adaobi Okafor, and her team had identified the flashpoints in the area and stationed policemen there permanently.
He said, “We posted policemen to where fights normally break out between the two main rival cults, Aiye and Eiye confraternities; the policemen are there permanently. Our patrol vehicles also move around the area 24 hours a day. Since these new measures have been introduced, we have not been recording cult violence in the area.
“We have charged many of the suspects to court; we will soon charge the others to court once the investigation is concluded. Last week, we arrested three suspects and recovered phones and other items they stole from their victims.”