Police arrest chef over alleged N150m theft, drugging of residents in Abuja

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested John Cosmos Govi, a chef, over his alleged role in a carefully planned robbery operation in which occupants of a residence in Abuja were reportedly drugged before luxury items and valuables worth about N150 million were stolen.

The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by Anthony Placid, Force Public Relations Officer at Forcer.

According to the statement, the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department, Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) over allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, administration of suspected harmful substances, malicious damage to property, and theft.

Preliminary investigations by the police indicated that Govi, who reportedly trained as a chef in Cotonou, Benin Republic, allegedly secured employment within the affected residence after establishing contact with two accomplices identified as Peter and Moses, who are currently at large.

The police said the suspect allegedly used his position within the household to observe the daily routines, movement patterns, and security arrangements of the occupants over time, reportedly laying the groundwork for the operation carried out on 23 April 2026.

“The suspect carefully studied the routine, movements, and security structure of the residence before executing the operation on 23rd April 2026,” the statement noted.

Investigators further alleged that the operation began with the administration of a suspected sedative substance through food prepared within the residence, intended to render occupants and security personnel unconscious.

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According to the police, once the substance reportedly took effect, the suspect allegedly facilitated the entry of his accomplices into the premises to complete the operation.

“Food prepared within the residence was laced with a suspected sedative substance intended to incapacitate the occupants and security personnel,” the Force said.

The police further stated that the gang allegedly disabled surveillance systems within the building before proceeding to ransack the apartment.

Items reportedly stolen included cash and about twenty luxury wristwatches, collectively valued at approximately N150 million.

“After the substance took effect, the suspect facilitated the entry of his accomplices into the residence, where the gang vandalised the CCTV monitoring system, ransacked the apartment, and carted away cash alongside twenty luxury wristwatches valued at approximately One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N150,000,000),” the statement added.

Operatives of the FID-IRT reportedly tracked and intercepted Govi while he was attempting to flee the Federal Capital Territory through the Gwagwalada axis, en route to Lagos.

“Operatives of the FID-IRT subsequently intercepted the suspect while attempting to flee through the Gwagwalada axis en route Lagos,” the police said.

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During the arrest, officers allegedly recovered an iPhone 17 Pro Max belonging to one of the victims, as well as a suspected chemical substance believed to have been used in the operation. The substance has since been sent for forensic analysis.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to dismantling organised criminal networks and ensuring that all individuals involved in such crimes are brought to justice.

It assured the public that investigations are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplices and recover additional stolen assets.