January 26, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel | Lagos
The Lagos State Government has arrested 115 street beggars and secured the conviction of 26 members of the notorious Omotaku group as part of its ongoing enforcement operations aimed at restoring public order and environmental sanity across the state.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made this known on Monday through a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
According to the commissioner, the street beggars were arrested at various locations across Lagos during coordinated enforcement exercises conducted by relevant government agencies.
“These arrests were carried out in line with the state’s commitment to ensuring compliance with environmental and public order laws,” Wahab said.
He also disclosed that 26 suspected Omotaku members—widely regarded as street urchins notorious for obstructing highways, harassing commuters, and disrupting traffic—were apprehended from different parts of the state within the last 24 hours.
The suspects were arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Oshodi, where they pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.
Following their guilty plea, the court sentenced each of them to three months’ imprisonment in accordance with existing laws.
Wahab explained that the convictions underscore the Lagos State Government’s zero-tolerance approach to activities that threaten public safety, disrupt public order, and undermine the proper use of public spaces.
He added that the government remains resolute in its determination to rid Lagos of street nuisances, criminal elements, and environmental offenders.
“Enforcement operations will continue across the state to ensure strict compliance with the law and to maintain a safe, orderly, and habitable environment for all Lagosians,” the commissioner stressed.
The Lagos State Government has repeatedly warned that it will not relent in enforcing its environmental and public safety laws, urging residents to cooperate with authorities in building a cleaner and safer megacity.
