The Lagos state environmental and special offences unit, otherwise known as task force, says it has arrested 31 suspects found lurking in the dark around garages and bus stops to attack residents.

Its director, press and public affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said this in a statement on Friday, in Lagos.

He said that they were arrested when the task force carried out an early morning raid across strategic locations to rid the metropolis of criminal elements who carry out nefarious activities at odd hours.

Mr Abdulraheem said the agency’s chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye, led the operation, and the suspects were nabbed at Oshodi, Ilupeju and Mushin.

He quoted Mr Jejeloye as saying that raiding of black spots and criminal hideouts was an efficient policing strategy which had yielded positive results over the years.

“We carry out these raids periodically to curb incidents of traffic robbery, pick pocketing and purse snatching which usually occur at late nights and early hours in the morning.

“We will carry out more raids and utilise other strategies to ensure that criminal elements have no comfort in the state,” Mr Jejeloye is quoted as saying.

The task force chief, according to the statement, said that the suspects arrested would be screened thoroughly before being charged to court.

He warned anyone engaging in acts of criminality to desist or risk being caught by the long arm of the law.

(NAN)