Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Lagos State Police Command have arrested no fewer than 22 teenagers for robbery and stealing.

The suspects were allegedly arrested in separate incidents of robbery, stealing and cultism in the Agege area of the state.

The first set of eight-man gang, led by one Babatunde (15) and Tayo (15), reportedly attacked a woman with an axe and disposed her of her phone last Thursday in Mulero, Agege.

Their victim, Aladegbo Abidemi, said, “I was coming from work  and I passed through Mulero around 10pm. Just a few seconds after my phone rang and I picked it, some young boys attacked me and took my phone.

“I reported to a RRS patrol team, which arrested them with my phone.”

The second set of suspects, consisting of 10 males and four females, were arrested at the Abattoir area on Monday at about 2.35am.

Three of them – Sulaimon, 13; Godwin, 19 and Sunkanmi, 15 – had earlier been arrested  for stealing mobile phones.

They had entered a phone shop on Monday, pretending to be customers.

When they left, the shop owner realised that two phones were missing. They were caught while fleeing the area.

Other members of the gang are Taiwo, 17; Rotimi, 17; Lateef, 19; Tunde, 17; Bolawatife, 15; Kayode, 15; and Olamide, 15.

The female members are Olamide, 19; Agnes, 14; Ayo, 15 and Ope, 16.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest of the teenagers.

“The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has summoned their parents and ordered that the teenagers be rehabilitated,” she added.