The Lagos State Police Command has decried the growing rate of minors’ involvement in cultism and other crimes.
The command’s spokesman, SP Dolapo Badmos, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Monday, that several minors had been arrested in recent times in connection with cultism.
Badmos said that the command was averse to prosecution of the minors but rather counselled them to eschew life of crime and discharged them.
According to her, gangsterism among minors has risen to an alarming proportion, particularly in Shomolu, Agege and Lagos Island areas. She appealed to parents to wake up to their responsibilities to their children and wards and train them to be good and useful people to the society.
“We arrested six minors recently of ages between 13 and 15, involved in a clash with a rival group in Shomolu.
“There is a unit created at the State CID Panti, Yaba, for reformation of minors. While they are here, they would be counselled by the Police and their parents.
“This exercise is part of community policing. It is a continuous programme until there are changes in them,” she said.
Badmos said that the second stage was to release the minors to their parents, while the Police would still be monitoring the development of such persons at their various homes.
“The third stage is for the Police to hands off monitoring the minors and for their parents to take total control,’’ she said.
NAN
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