Hotelier arrested for allegedly sodomising 6 boys in Lagos

Detectives from Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested a hotelier, Opara Macdonald, for allegedly sodomising six teenage boys. The suspect, said to be the owner of a hotel in the Ejigbo area of Lagos, was arrested following a complaint made to the police by the parent of one of the victims. Parading the […]

Detectives from Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested a hotelier, Opara Macdonald, for allegedly sodomising six teenage boys.

The suspect, said to be the owner of a hotel in the Ejigbo area of Lagos, was arrested following a complaint made to the police by the parent of one of the victims.

Parading the suspect before newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Zone, Adegoke Fayoade, said the suspect lured his victims to his hotel where he allegedly committed the act.

AIG Fayoade, who was represented by the Public Relations Officer of the Zone, Ayuba Umma, said the suspect, who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the hotel, was arrested following allegations of having unlawful carnal knowledge of minors, an act against the order of nature.

The AIG said the arrest followed a petition dated January 23, 2025 to the Zone by one Edozie Christian, a resident of Isheri-Osun, Lagos, on behalf of his 16-year-old son.

He said in the petition, the complainant alleged that the suspect, Opara Macdonald, engaged in unlawful sexual acts with the minor.

“Upon receipt of the petition, the Assistant Inspector General of Police assigned CSP Uba Bangajiya Adams to conduct a discreet investigation into the matter.

“The victim, initially fearful of speaking out due to threats allegedly made by the suspect, confided in his mother. He recounted that Opara Macdonald warned him that disclosing the incident would result in him losing his sanity.

“Reassured by his mother, the victim detailed how the suspect had taken him from the hotel in his vehicle to his residence at No. 4B, Oshoba Street, Akowonjo-Egbeda, Lagos, where he was forcefully subjected to unlawful sexual acts.

“Following the incident, the suspect allegedly provided the victim with a bottle of Lucozade boost and a cash of N5,000.

‘’Upon this revelation, the victim’s parents reported the matter to the Isheri-Osun Police Division. Investigative actions were initiated, but rather than cooperating with law enforcement, the suspect refused to honour police invitations and instead attempted to manipulate the process.

“Seeking to evade justice, he escalated the matter to the Zone 2 Command Headquarters, where he was subsequently apprehended.

‘’To ascertain the veracity of the claims, the victim underwent a medical examination at medical centre. Additionally, a close friend of the victim, who was present at the hotel on the day of the incident, corroborated the allegations.

“This friend confirmed that the suspect had been engaging in unlawful acts with the victim and had also attempted a similar act with him, which he resisted. He further presented recorded telephone conversations, chat histories, and video evidence filmed by the victim within the suspect’s residence using the suspect’s own phone.

“Initially, the suspect denied knowing the victim. However, when confronted with evidence, he admitted taking the 16-year-old boy to his residence.

‘’Furthermore, it is important to note that the suspect allegedly threatened the victim with psychological harm should he reveal the incident, and since making his confession, the victim has exhibited signs of mental distress.

‘’Investigations also uncovered unprofessional conduct by the initial Investigating Police Officer (IPO), who removed a key witness’s statement from the case file before transferring it to the Zone 2 Command Headquarters.”

He said the suspect would soon be charged to court.