The Agege local government and the police Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) in Lagos say they will float a task force to tackle ‘Awawa’ cultists and other criminals in Agege.

Ganiyu Egunjobi, the executive chairman of Agege local government, disclosed this on Thursday during a security summit organised by the council.

Mr Egunjobi said the local government had established a joint task force with the RRS to tackle insecurity in the Agege community.

“The nefarious activity of the ‘Awawa’ cult group is no doubt a sad page in the story of our community; it’s causing death, injuries, crippling businesses and impacting negatively on social lives,” the LG boss explained. “My administration is not in the position to change the narrative given that the control of security architecture does not reside with the council.”

Mr Egunjobi added that the Agege Youth Deradicalisation Programme was one of the council’s efforts to tackle the menace of the cult group.

According to him, 250 youths are on a monthly stipend of N10,000 each to encourage them to enrol in the council’s vocational centres; 30 centres were established to cater for youth empowerment for self-reliance.

Saheed Egbeyemi, the RRS commander in Lagos, noted that the government would not take criminals with kid gloves. Mr Egbeyemi, a chief superintendent of police, added that anybody arrested would face the wrath of the law.

“We will no longer condone criminal activities in the community. I was born and brought up in the Agege community, and there is no story you want to tell me that I haven’t known about the neighbourhood,” he explained. “I don’t believe in thuggery because there’s no gain in it, and don’t allow the social media to push you into crime.”

The RRS commander added, “The council has decided to set up a security task force within the community to curb the lingering security challenges.”

(NAN)