Popular Nigerian comedian and content creator Chukwuebuka Amuzie, widely known as Brain Jotter, has raised the alarm following an encounter with suspected thugs while driving in Lagos State.
In a video shared on his official Instagram page on Tuesday, the skit maker detailed his experience and captioned the post: “Nigerian zoo keepers are the worst. We lack good wild life and they let a lion escape from the zoo this is sad.”
The video captured the exact moment a group of men confronted the content creator on a Lagos road, refusing him free passage and demanding money before allowing him to leave. Social media user #Abraham06084565 noted that the incident took place in the Bariga area of the state following a show, where the street boys confronted Brain Jotter after he refused to “settle” them.
The incident has sparked widespread reactions online. One user, #Daddy_Tweens, remarked that the comedian was referring to individuals in Lagos who act like wild animals. Another commenter, #emmakudos, wrote:
“Monsters in Lagos like this have been enabled by the government.” Similarly, #OkonkwoDavidC1 stated:
“Lagos State and thugs na 5&6,” echoing public frustration over the situation.
Brain Jotter’s ordeal adds to the rising complaints from entertainers, professionals, and residents concerning the menace of suspected area boys, commonly called agberos, operating across various parts of the state.
Just days earlier, Saltiana, also known as DJ Salt of Life and younger sister to Afrobeats star Ayra Starr, raised an alarm after suspected area boys damaged her vehicle in Lagos.
She disclosed that the men mistook her for the singer and attacked her car when she refused to give them cash.
In separate accounts, medical doctor Olusina Ajidahun, known as The Bearded Sina, and music video director ThankGod Omori, popularly called TG Omori, recounted their experiences with extortion by street touts while carrying out their work. Dr. Ajidahun explained that touts besieged a free medical outreach in the Mushin area and demanded money while threatening to disrupt the exercise.
These reports highlight growing concerns over harassment, extortion, and vandalism by street touts in areas such as Lekki, Ajah, Oshodi, Mushin, and Agege, where motorists in standard vehicles or those mistaken for celebrities are frequently targeted.
Addressing previous incidents, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that the state government has continued to arrest and dislodge street urchins. However, he noted that cash handouts from celebrities, influencers, and members of the public undermine these enforcement efforts by creating a lucrative source of livelihood and a sense of entitlement among the touts. He urged the public to cooperate and exercise collective responsibility to build a safer, more orderly state.
