Abuja chef arrested for drugging employers, stealing N150m luxury items
Police Arrest Suspect in Luxury Theft Case in Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force announced the arrest of John Cosmos Govi by the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) in connection with a high-profile burglary in Abuja. Govi faces charges related to criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, and theft of luxury items.
According to a statement from Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Okon Placid, preliminary investigations indicate Govi, a trained chef from a catering school in Cotonou, Benin Republic, gained employment at the victim’s residence. He allegedly coordinated with two accomplices, identified only as Peter and Moses, who remain at large.
Investigators suggest that Govi meticulously observed the daily routines and security measures of the residence prior to executing the theft on April 23, 2026. Authorities believe he laced food prepared for the occupants with a suspected sedative to incapacitate them and their security personnel.
“After the substance took effect, Govi let his accomplices into the residence, where they disabled the CCTV system, ransacked the apartment, and stole cash along with twenty luxury wristwatches valued at approximately 150 million Naira,” the statement noted.
Following the burglary, FID-IRT operatives intercepted the suspects as they attempted to flee toward Lagos via Gwagwalada. Law enforcement recovered an iPhone 17 Pro Max belonging to the victim, along with a suspected chemical substance that will undergo forensic analysis.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to combatting organized crime and ensuring that all individuals involved are brought to justice.
