The Ogun State Community Social Orientation and Safety Corps, popularly known as So-Safe Corps, has apprehended a 27-year-old man, Emmanuel Awahnse, for allegedly stealing goats in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The arrest was disclosed in a statement issued by the State Commander of the Corps, Soji Ganzallo, and made available to journalists through the Director of Information and Public Relations, ACC Adegunwa Adegbuyi.
According to the statement, the suspect was initially sighted in the early hours of February 6, 2026, at about 5:00 a.m., by officers attached to the Ifonyintedo Division during a routine patrol along the Madoga, Ita-Ege Road in Ipokia. The patrol team, led by the Divisional Officer, CSC Adeisa Zacheous, observed Awahnse and another suspect riding a motorcycle with a suspicious black bag.
Commander Ganzallo explained that upon noticing the presence of security operatives, the two men reportedly accelerated in an attempt to evade arrest. Officers immediately gave chase, forcing the suspects to abandon the motorcycle and the bag as they fled the scene.
A subsequent search of the bag revealed three live goats believed to have been stolen.
Following the incident, the Area Commander of Ipokia Area Command, ACC Aliu Yusuf, ordered heightened surveillance and directed officers to intensify efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects. A special surveillance team was thereafter constituted to track them down.
The breakthrough came on February 19 at about 1:30 p.m., when Emmanuel Awahnse, also known as “Ariwo Oja,” was arrested at a church in Ipokia while attending the naming ceremony of his newborn child. He is said to be a native of Odoforo in Ipokia Local Government Area.
During preliminary interrogation, Awahnse allegedly confessed to the crime, admitting that the goats were stolen from Ifonyintedo. He also identified his accomplice as one Ketonsu, also known as “Ijagun,” who is currently at large.
Commander Ganzallo confirmed that the suspect, along with the recovered exhibits, has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Idiroko Division, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The So-Safe Corps reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Ogun State and warned criminal elements to desist from unlawful activities or face the full weight of the law.
