‘This is sad,’ Brain Jotter Cries Out After Alleged Harassment By Street Thugs In Lagos

Popular Nigerian comedian and content creator, Chukwuebuka Amuzie, popularly known as Brain Jotter, has raised the alarm after he was harassed by suspected street thugs while driving in Lagos.

The skit maker shared his experience on Tuesday in a post on his official Instagram page, where he uploaded a video showing a group of men confronting him on a Lagos road.

In the post, Brain Jotter captioned the video sarcastically, “Nigerian zoo keepers are the worst. We lack good wildlife and they let a lion escape from the zoo. This is sad.”

The video showed the men surrounding his vehicle and reportedly preventing him from leaving until he paid money, in what appeared to be an alleged demand for settlement.

The incident has renewed concerns over the activities of suspected area boys, also known as agberos, who have been accused of harassing, extorting and intimidating motorists, residents and professionals in different parts of Lagos.

Brain Jotter’s complaint came only days after Saltiana, popularly known as DJ Salt of Life and younger sister of Afrobeats star Ayra Starr, alleged that suspected area boys damaged her car.

According to her account, the men reportedly mistook her for her sister, called out Ayra Starr’s name and attacked her vehicle after she declined to give them money.

Medical doctor Olusina Ajidahun, popularly known as The Bearded Sina, and music video director ThankGod Omori, better known as TG Omori, have also separately recounted encounters with suspected street touts in Lagos.

Ajidahun alleged that touts disrupted a free medical outreach in Mushin and demanded money, threatening to cause a disturbance when their demands were not met.

TG Omori has similarly spoken about alleged harassment and extortion by street touts while carrying out professional activities in the state.

In April, Nollywood actress Bimbo Ademoye also clashed with suspected area boys after they allegedly disrupted a movie set in Lagos, further highlighting concerns over the challenges faced by filmmakers and other professionals working in public spaces.

The Lagos State Government has previously acknowledged concerns surrounding street urchins and touts.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, had said the government continued to arrest and dislodge street urchins across the state.

However, Wahab argued that the practice of giving cash to touts by celebrities, influencers and members of the public was undermining government efforts.

According to him, such handouts encourage street touts to see the streets as a lucrative source of livelihood while also creating a sense of entitlement among them.

He consequently called for collective responsibility and greater cooperation from residents to build a safer and more orderly Lagos.

Brain Jotter’s post also generated reactions from his followers, with some condemning the alleged behaviour of the men in the video.

One user, #Daddy_Tweens, said the comedian was referring to people in Lagos who “behave like animals,” while specifically pointing to suspected thugs in the South-West.

Another commenter, #emmakudos, wrote, “Monsters in Lagos like this have been enabled by the government.”

A third user, #OkonkwoDavidC1, commented, “Lagos State and thugs na 5&6.”

Another follower, #Abraham06084565, claimed the incident occurred in Bariga after a show, alleging that street boys confronted Brain Jotter after he refused to “settle” them.

The latest incident adds to wider complaints about alleged extortion, harassment and vandalism by suspected street touts in parts of Lagos, including Lekki, Ajah, Oshodi, Mushin and Agege.

Motorists, particularly those driving expensive vehicles or those mistaken for celebrities, have frequently been reported as targets of such encounters.

Brain Jotter’s experience has once again drawn attention to the challenges faced by motorists and residents navigating Lagos roads, as concerns persist over the activities of suspected street touts and the efforts to curb them.