Print version ‘Area Boys’ Burn Rehabilitation Centre
February 17, 2010 17:16, 105 views

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The multi-million naira Lagos State Rehabilitation and Skills Acquisition Centre, Tekunle, Lagos State has been burnt by area boys taken to the centre for rehabilitation.

The centre was built by former Governor Bola Tinubu about six years ago to rehabilitate area boys and drug addicts arrested on the streets of Lagos.

Tekunle is an Island at a remote area of Lekki and has often been described as a ‘place of no return’ because of its inaccessibility.

Area boys taken to the Island, after sometime adjust to the environment and learn useful skills such as tailoring, carpentry, vulcanizing, among others for a period of nine months after which they are sent back into the society to live meaningful lives.

However, P.M.NEWS gathered that scores of area boys sent for rehabilitation went on the rampage recently and razed the centre.

Equipment bought with millions of naira and the buildings in the centre were burnt by the area boys, bringing to an end the rehabilitation programme of the Lagos State Government for social miscreants.

It could not be ascertain why the area boys went on the rampage.

P.M.NEWS gathered, however, that the trainees revolted when they were being flogged for refusing to carry out certain instruction.

Officers of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences unit, it was further learnt, saved the day as they stormed the centre and arrested scores of the area boys who carried out the act.

Chairman of the Task Force, Bayo Sulaiman, when contacted told P.M.NEWS that those arrested had been charged to the Tapa Customary Court, Lagos Island for arson.

He disclosed that the suspects were currently being remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons, adding that the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Supo Sasore, was handling the case for the government.

When asked to give details on how the area boys burnt the centre, he declined, saying that our reporter should go to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development to get such information.

When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Kamal Junaid said: “I don’t know anything about it; you can contact the Public Relations Officer or the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth, Sports and Social Development.”

Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru, could not be reached.

One of his aides who picked the call said his boss was in a meeting and that we should call later.

Since the inception of the centre, about four sets of area boys had been rehabilitated and empowered to live meaningful lives in the society.

Some of them had told stories of their wretched past and how their lives changed when they were rehabilitated at the training centre.

With the burning of the centre, it appears the laudable plan of the state government to rehabilitate the notorious area boys has been dealt a mortal blow.

omo isale eko. fashola's boys on a rampage? where is there chief babapupa?

Babapupa ti sa lo. Hahahah!

Mayhem in Ibadan as rival cult groups clash
By Oseheye OkwuofuPublished TodayNewsRating: Unrated

Akala Pandemonium broke out in the city of Ibadan yesterday as two rival cult groups clashed.

Over 20 people were severely injured　in the mayhem which lasted for several hours .

　 In the bloody encounter , about　 50 vehicles were also damaged,　while the 　two rival　 groups engaged each other with dangerous weapons　at Popoyemoja area of　 Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday .

　The clash was between the two notorious cult groups in the city- the Ojuina　 and Omo Oye Boys .

The two have been terrorising the residents of Ibadan through extortion , intimidation, harrassment, rape, and all other kinds of social vices .

　　However, in response to the social disorder, mobile policemen from the anti-crime unit of the Oyo State Police Command raided the Ogunpa base of the Ojuina boys　 , where some arrests were effected .

　　Commercial activities were totally paralysed at the popular Ogunpa market yesterday morning as the mobile policemen, numbering about 50 stormed all　 hidden places of the hoodlums, leading to the arrest of many suspected　 area boys.　

　　The bloody clash was as a result of the face-off between Kamorudeen Oyedija, leader of Omo Oye boys of Popoyemoja and Kabiru Ajanaku, leader of Ojuina boys of Ogunpa area.

　　An eyewitness account said 　that trouble started a few days ago when Oyedija reportedly beat up a younger brother to Ajanaku’s wife by giving him a fist blow with his left hand, already laced up with charms.

　　It was further gathered that 　the situation was aggravated following the resultant　 complication　 on 　the jaw of Ajanaku’s in-law, which was said to have 　started decomposing as a result of the charms used on him.

　Worried by this development, Ajanaku, the leader of the Ojuina boys, reportedly visited Oyedija in his base to confront him over the attack on the 　young man.

　　According to the eyewitness account , the leader of the Ojuina boys requested Oyedija to pay 　for the N150,000 medical bill incurred by his in-law, a situation which reportedly led to a disagreement between the duo.

　It was reliably gathered that it was the disagreement that resulted in the attack on the Popoyemoja base of the Omo Oye boys , during which matchets, cutlasses, charms and other dangerous weapons were freely used.

　 Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO) of the Oyo State Police Command, Miss Olabisi Okuwobi, revealed that over 30 hoodlums were arrested during the raid.

　 Okuwobi added that the state police command had commenced investigation into the immediate　 cause of the bloody clash.

touts everywhere