Man, 31, Arrested With Pistol During Cultural Festival In Lagos

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

Operatives from the Lagos Commissioner of Police Tactical Squad have arrested a 31-year old man, Sodiq Onakoya, with a pistol for allegedly terrorizing the community during a cultural festival.

 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 27th of May, 2025, at about 1700hrs at Isemo Festival, Ikorodu area of Lagos.

 

It was gathered that while he was brandishing the pistol, the operatives, who were on routine monitoring in the area, accosted and arrested him for not only possession of of illegal arms but terrorising people and detained him at the station for interrogation.

 

During interrogation, the suspect was unable to explain how he got and received the pistol and live ammunition found with him during the festival, which instilled fear in the community.

He was charged with the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

 

The charges read:

COUNT I: “That you, SODIQ ONAKOYA ‘M’ and others still at large on the 27th of May, 2025 at about 1700hrs at Isemo Festival, Ikorodu Lagos State, under the Lagos Magisterial district, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: unlawful possession of fire arm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

 

COUNT II:”That you, SODIQ ONAKOYA ‘M’ and others still at large on same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district, did knowingly buy or receive arms in your possession and cannot give satisfactory account of one Beretta Pistol with Five rounds of live ammunitions used in your unlawful operations and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 330(d) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

 

COUNT III:”That you, SODIQ ONAKOYA ‘M’ and others still at large on same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by terrorizing the community of Ikorodu during the Isemo Festival and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 168(d) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

 

He pleaded not guilty.

 

The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ihkayere, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

 

The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

 

The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.