Impact Stories
Sanni, a native of Ilorin, Kwara state, ventured to Lagos for the first time on October 23, 2018, with dreams of better opportunities. Arriving in the Isolo area at Cele bus-stop, he was waiting to catch another bus to his destination when a disturbance caused by street urchins, known as "agberos," attracted police attention.
As others fled from the police, Sanni, confused and innocent of any wrongdoing, stayed behind. He couldn't leave his luggage and hoped the police were there to restore order. Instead, he was detained along with others.
Taken to the police station, most detainees were granted bail, but Sanni, lacking the means to post bail and with a dead phone, couldn’t reach anyone for help. His pleas and explanations were ignored, leading to charges of belonging to an unlawful society and his subsequent detention.
During a prison outreach by the Headfort Foundation on November 30, 2018, Sanni’s story was heard, leading to legal aid being arranged. On December 19, 2018, the lawyer successfully convinced the court to dismiss the case due to insufficient evidence. Sanni was released, returned to Ilorin, and reunited with his family, leaving Lagos behind.
