Lagos warns celebrities, residents: Stop giving money to ‘boys’ on the streets

The Lagos state government has warned celebrities, influencers, and residents not to give money to brokers and street criminals, often called ‘boys’ regional grooves’, emphasizing that such actions only worsen insecurity and environmental problems throughout the state.

Commissioner for environmental and water resources, Tokunbo Wahab, issued a warning in a post on X (previously Twitter) on Tuesday.

“Celebrities, influencers, and even lagosians who are well -intended must stop giving money to these criminals,” Wahab said.

“Every time you give them cash, you do not solve their problems; you encourage them to stay on the streets, instill them to multiply, and strengthen the cycle of violation of the law.”

He explained that what might appear as compassion in the eyes of the inhabitants actually made the government’s enforcement more difficult.

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“What looks like a good act only makes enforcement more difficult and create greater security and environmental concerns for all of us,” Wahab added.

His statement followed a complaint by a resident, Olukayode Ajenifuja, which raised fears of X about the harassment of motorists along the freeway freestage.

In his position, Ajenifuja wrote, “The state needs to place people in the Lagos State Watch environment to help and protect motorists from harassment, extortion, attack, and intimidation by many boys and teenagers who are homeless along the corridor. They are all threatening to us all.

The warning also appeared after a viral video showed brokers and luxury car content makers chasing convoys believed to belong to Afrobeats Burna Boy superstar on Lagos Island. This group was seen trying to ask for money, with several efforts to film meetings for social media content, before being blocked by the singer security team.

Repeating the government’s attitude, Wahab assured that steps were taken to curb threats but urged residents to support efforts by refusing to trigger problems.