By Paul Joseph
What was intended to be a joyous naming ceremony filled with prayers, celebration, and proud parenting took an unexpected turn when members of the Ogun State Community Social Orientation and Safety Corps (So-Safe Corps) arrived — not with gifts, but with handcuffs.
The event, which took place in the Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, abruptly ended when officers arrested 27-year-old Emmanuel Awahnse, known as “Ariwo Oja,” on charges of stealing three goats.
According to Corps Commander Soji Ganzallo, Awahnse had previously evaded capture after a dramatic encounter on the morning of February 6, 2026.
Around 5:00 a.m, operatives from the Ifonyintedo Division reportedly saw him riding a motorcycle with an accomplice along the Madoga–Ita-Ege Road, carrying a suspicious black bag that did not seem to contain baby clothes.
When the suspect allegedly noticed he was being observed, he and his partner sped away, leading to a chase reminiscent of a low-budget action film. In their rush to escape, they abandoned both the motorcycle and the mysterious bag.
What was found inside the bag was; three live goats, bleating.
With the goats safely retrieved, the Area Commander of Ipokia, Aliu Yusuf, dispatched a surveillance team to locate the fleeing suspects. After several days of monitoring, law enforcement finally tracked down Awahnse on February 19 at around 1:30 p.m.
His hiding spot? Not in a forest or at a border, but in a church, where he was attending the naming ceremony for his newborn child.
Witnesses reported that the atmosphere shifted from “Hallelujah” to “Ha-lay-what?” as officers moved in. Instead of receiving congratulatory handshakes, the new father found himself being led out of the church.
During initial questioning, Awahnse allegedly admitted that he and an accomplice named Ketonsu, also known as Ijagun, had stolen the goats in Ifonyintedo.
He has since been handed over to the police in Idiroko for further investigation and potential prosecution.
For guests who had come expecting jollof rice and joyful dancing, the day concluded with an unexpected encounter with law enforcement.
As authorities often remind us — whether during dawn patrols or baby dedications — no one can evade the law indefinitely. Not even on a motorcycle with three goats in a black bag.
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