Popular Nigerian comedian and content creator, Chukwuebuka Amuzie, better known as Brain Jotter, has raised concerns after allegedly being harassed by suspected street thugs while driving in Lagos.
The skit maker shared a video of the incident on his official Instagram page on Tuesday, appearing to show a group of men confronting him on a Lagos road and allegedly demanding money before allowing him to proceed.
Captioning the video, Brain Jotter wrote, “Nigerian zoo keepers are the worst. We lack good wildlife and they let a lion escape from the zoo. This is sad.”
The incident has renewed concerns over the activities of suspected area boys, popularly known as agberos, who have been accused of extortion, harassment and intimidation of motorists and residents across parts of Lagos.
Brain Jotter’s experience comes days after Saltiana, the younger sister of Afrobeats star Ayra Starr and popularly known as DJ Salt of Life, alleged that suspected area boys damaged her vehicle after mistaking her for her sister.
According to Saltiana, the men repeatedly called out Ayra Starr’s name and became aggressive after she failed to give them money.
Similarly, medical doctor Olusina Ajidahun, popularly known as The Bearded Sina, and music video director ThankGod Omori, also known as TG Omori, have separately recounted alleged encounters with street touts in Lagos.
Ajidahun previously said suspected touts disrupted a free medical outreach in Mushin and demanded money, allegedly threatening to cause a disturbance if their demands were not met.
Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has previously said the state government was taking steps to arrest and remove street urchins from the streets.
Wahab, however, warned that regular cash handouts by celebrities, influencers and members of the public could undermine government efforts by encouraging street touts to see harassment and extortion as a source of income.
He called for greater cooperation from residents to help create a safer and more orderly environment across the state.
Brain Jotter’s latest experience has once again drawn attention to complaints of alleged harassment and extortion by suspected street touts in areas of Lagos, with motorists and public figures reportedly among those targeted.
The incident has also sparked reactions online, with some social media users blaming the persistence of street touts on weak enforcement, while others called for stronger measures to curb their activities.
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