Chef Raids Home After Allegedly Poisoning Meals

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a chef, John Cosmos Govi, over his alleged involvement in a robbery operation that saw luxury wristwatches worth about N150 million and other valuables stolen from a residence in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, police said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, who reportedly trained at a catering school in Cotonou, Benin Republic, gained employment as a chef in the residence after allegedly linking up with two accomplices identified simply as Peter and Moses, who are currently on the run.

Investigators disclosed that Govi allegedly spent time studying the movement patterns, daily routine, and security architecture of the residence before executing the operation on April 23, 2026.

Police further revealed that meals prepared in the house were allegedly laced with a suspected sedative substance aimed at incapacitating both the occupants and security personnel.

After the victims reportedly became unconscious, the suspect allegedly granted his accomplices access into the residence.

The gang was said to have vandalised the CCTV monitoring system, thoroughly ransacked the apartment, and escaped with cash and other valuable items.

The Police later intercepted the suspects along the Gwagwalada axis while they were allegedly attempting to flee to Lagos.

During the operation, police recovered an iPhone 17 Pro Max belonging to one of the victims, alongside a suspected chemical substance believed to have been used during the operation. The substance has been sent for forensic analysis.