The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested a man identified as John Cosmos Govi over his alleged involvement in a high-profile robbery operation targeting a residence in Abuja, where luxury items and valuables worth about ₦150 million were reportedly stolen.
The arrest was carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) following investigations into allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, malicious damage to property, theft, and the administration of suspected harmful substances.
According to police findings, the suspect allegedly secured employment as a chef in the residence after undergoing catering training in Cotonou, Benin Republic. Investigators said he established contact with two accomplices identified simply as Peter and Moses, who are currently on the run.
Police disclosed that Govi allegedly spent time studying the household’s routine, security arrangements, and movement patterns before carrying out the operation on April 23, 2026.
Investigations further revealed that meals prepared in the residence were allegedly laced with a suspected sedative substance aimed at incapacitating occupants and security personnel within the premises.
After the substance reportedly took effect, the suspect allegedly granted access to his accomplices, who then entered the residence, disabled the CCTV surveillance system, and ransacked the apartment.
The gang was said to have escaped with cash and about 20 luxury wristwatches estimated to be worth approximately ₦150 million.
The police said operatives later intercepted the suspects around the Gwagwalada area while they were allegedly attempting to flee towards Lagos.
During the operation, officers recovered an iPhone 17 Pro Max said to belong to one of the victims, alongside a suspected chemical substance believed to have been used during the crime. The substance has been sent for forensic examination.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to tackling organised crime and ensuring that all individuals linked to criminal activities are apprehended and prosecuted according to the law.
