The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a chef, John Cosmos Govi, for allegedly drugging his employer and security personnel and orchestrating the looting of 20 luxury watches valued at over N150 million from a home in Abuja.

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Anthony Placid disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

He said the suspect was nabbed by the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), over his involvement in a case of criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, administering suspected harmful substances, malicious damage to property, and theft involving the robbery of luxury items and valuables from the Abuja residence.

Placid said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, who reportedly trained at a catering school in Cotonou, Benin Republic, secured employment as a chef within the residence after establishing contact with two accomplices identified as Peter and Moses, both currently at large.

He stated, “Findings indicate that the suspect carefully studied the routine, movements, and security structure of the residence before executing the operation on 23rd April 2026.

“Further investigations established that food prepared within the residence was laced with a suspected sedative substance intended to incapacitate the occupants and security personnel.

“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 (₦150,000,000).

Placid explained that the operatives of the FID-IRT subsequently intercepted the suspects while attempting to flee through the Gwagwalada axis en route Lagos.

He disclosed that during the operation, an iPhone 17 Pro Max belonging to the victim was recovered alongside a suspected chemical substance, which has since been forwarded for forensic analysis.

The force spokesman said the police remains committed to combating criminal activities and ensuring that all persons involved in organised crimre brought to justice. (The Sun)

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