Man arrested during his child’s naming ceremony for allegedly stealing goats in Ogun

A man was taken into custody during his child’s naming ceremony at a church after being accused of stealing three goats in Ogun State.

Authorities from the Ogun State Community Social Orientation and Safety Corps, known as So-Safe Corps, arrested 27-year-old Emmanuel Awahnse in Ipokia Local Council. The Corps Commander, Dr. Soji Ganzallo, confirmed the arrest in a statement released in Abeokuta by the Director of Information, ACC Adegunwa Adegbuyi.

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According to Dr. Ganzallo, the suspect was first spotted by operatives from the Ifonyintedo Division on February 6, 2026, around 5:00 a.m. While conducting a routine patrol on the Madoga–Ita-Ege road, they saw Awahnse riding a motorcycle with an accomplice and carrying a black bag.

Upon noticing the officers, the suspects allegedly fled the scene. During the pursuit, they abandoned both the motorcycle and the bag, which was later found to contain three goats.

After the incident, ACC Aliu Yusuf, the Area Commander for Ipokia, directed the creation of a surveillance team to pursue the suspects who had fled.

Ganzallo mentioned that Awahnse, who is also known as Ariwo Oja and hails from Odoforo in the Ipokia Local Council, was apprehended on February 19 around 1:30 p.m. He added that during the initial investigation, the suspect reportedly admitted that he and an accomplice named Ketonsu, also known as Ijagun, were responsible for stealing the goats in Ifonyintedo.

Both the suspect and the stolen items have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at the Idiroko Division for further inquiries and potential legal action.