What was meant to be a joyful celebration turned into a scene of shock and embarrassment when operatives of the Ogun State Community Social Orientation and Safety Corps (So-Safe Corps) stormed a church and arrested a 27-year-old man during his child’s naming ceremony for allegedly stealing three goats.
The suspect, Emmanuel Awahnse, popularly known as Ariwo Oja, was apprehended in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, bringing the ceremony to an abrupt halt.
According to the corps Commander, Soji Ganzallo, the suspect had earlier evaded arrest after being spotted on February 6, 2026, at about 5:00 a.m. by operatives of the Ifonyintedo Division during a routine patrol along the Madoga–Ita-Ege Road.
He was reportedly riding a motorcycle with an accomplice and carrying a suspicious black bag.
Sensing danger when he noticed the operatives, Awahnse and his accomplice allegedly sped off, triggering a chase.
In a bid to escape, they abandoned both the motorcycle and the bag. Upon inspection, the bag was found to contain three goats believed to have been stolen.
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Determined to track down the fleeing suspects, the Area Commander of Ipokia Area Command,Aliu Yusuf, immediately deployed a surveillance team.
After days of investigation and monitoring, the long arm of the law finally caught up with Awahnse on February 19 at about 1:30 p.m. — inside a church, where he was celebrating the naming of his newborn child.
During preliminary interrogation, he allegedly confessed that he and an accomplice identified as Ketonsu, also known as Ijagun, stole the goats in Ifonyintedo.
Awahnse has since been handed over to the police at Idiroko, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
What began as a day of joy ended in handcuffs — a stark reminder that, as authorities often say, no one outruns the law forever.
