Police Arrest Chef who Laced Family's Meals With Sedatives, Disabled CCTV, Escaped With ₦150 Million

According to a report by Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, May 26, The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a newly employed private chef for allegedly drugging an entire Abuja household with sedatives before stealing cash and luxury items valued at ₦150 million. 

The suspect, identified as John Cosmos Govi, was apprehended by operatives from the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT).

According to a report by The Punch Newspaper on Monday, May 25, 2026, the incident occurred in an upscale neighbourhood within the Federal Capital Territory. 

Investigations revealed that Govi meticulously studied the household’s routine before executing the robbery alongside two accomplices, Peter and Moses, who remain at large.

On the night of April 23, 2026, the chef allegedly laced the family's dinner with a powerful incapacitating agent. 

Once the sedatives took effect on the family members and security personnel, Govi opened the doors to his waiting accomplices.

To cover their tracks, the gang disabled and vandalised the property’s CCTV monitoring system before ransacking the home. 

They escaped with substantial amounts of cash and a collection of 20 luxury wristwatches, totaling an estimated value of ₦150 million.

Security operatives intercepted the suspects while they were attempting to flee through the Gwagwalada area en route to Lagos. 

During the breakthrough operation, police successfully recovered a stolen iPhone 17 Pro Max belonging to one of the victims.

A suspicious chemical substance was also recovered at the scene and has been sent for forensic analysis. 

The Kwara State Police Command confirmed that the prime suspect remains in custody while tracking systems have been activated to apprehend the fleeing accomplices.