Police Arrest Abuja Chef Over Alleged N150m Robbery, Recover Victim’s iPhone

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) have arrested an Abuja-based chef, John Cosmos Govi, over his alleged involvement in a high-profile N150 million robbery targeting a residence in the Federal Capital Territory.

The suspect was arrested following investigations into the alleged theft of luxury items, cash and valuables from the Abuja residence where he was employed as a chef.

In a statement issued by the Force spokesperson, DCP Anthony Placide, the police said the suspect is being investigated for alleged criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, administering harmful substances, malicious damage to property and theft.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that Govi underwent professional training at a catering school in Cotonou, Benin Republic, before securing employment at the residence.

Investigators alleged that after gaining the trust of the household, the suspect allegedly monitored the movement patterns of residents, observed internal security arrangements and studied the operational routine of the residence before carrying out the operation.

Police said the suspect reportedly coordinated with two accomplices identified as Peter and Moses, who are currently at large.

The alleged robbery took place on April 23, 2026, after food prepared within the residence was reportedly laced with a suspected sedative substance intended to incapacitate the occupants and security personnel.

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According to investigators, once the occupants became incapacitated, the suspect allegedly facilitated the entry of his accomplices into the residence.

The police said the gang then vandalised the property’s CCTV surveillance system, thoroughly searched the apartment and made away with cash alongside 20 luxury wristwatches valued at about ₦150 million.

Authorities said the stolen items included several high-value luxury timepieces, making the incident one of the most significant insider-linked theft cases recorded in Abuja in recent months.

Following intelligence-led tracking, police operatives intercepted the suspects while they were allegedly attempting to flee through the Gwagwalada axis on their way to Lagos.

During the operation, investigators recovered an iPhone 17 Pro Max belonging to the victim and a suspected chemical substance believed to have been used in carrying out the crime.

The recovered substance has reportedly been sent for forensic examination to determine its composition and confirm whether it was used to sedate the victims.

Police said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing accomplices and recover the remaining stolen valuables.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to combating organised crime and urged Nigerians to conduct thorough background checks before employing domestic workers or private service personnel.

Security experts say the incident highlights growing concerns over insider-assisted robbery cases and the increasing sophistication of criminal tactics involving trusted domestic staff.

The case has also renewed calls for improved residential security systems and stronger vetting procedures for household employees across the country.

Police Arrest Abuja Chef Over Alleged N150m Robbery, Recover Victim’s iPhone

Gov Yusuf Approves N20,000 Eid-el-Kabir Goodwill Package for Civil Servants

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a special Eid-ul-Adha goodwill package of Twenty Thousand Naira (N20,000) for civil servants across the state and all 44 local government areas as part of efforts to support workers ahead of the forthcoming Sallah celebration. The approval was contained in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Tanko Muhammad, on Monday, May 25, 2026. The gesture comes shortly after the successful payment of May 2026 salaries to both state and local government workers, ensuring that civil servants receive their regular monthly compensation alongside the festive bonus.

According to the official statement, the intervention is targeted at civil servants on Grade Levels 01 to 14 serving in state ministries, departments, agencies, and local government councils across the 44 local government areas of Kano State. The package is designed to provide additional financial relief to workers who fall within these grade levels, which constitute a significant portion of the state’s public service workforce and are often the most vulnerable to economic pressures.

Governor Yusuf said the initiative was part of his administration’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of workers, whom he described as the backbone of the public service in Kano State. The Governor noted that the decision was informed by the current economic realities and the financial demands associated with festive periods, stressing that the support would help workers celebrate the Eid festivities with comfort and renewed hope alongside their families. “In recognition of the prevailing economic realities and the financial demands often associated with festive periods, the Governor considered it necessary to provide additional relief to enable workers celebrate Eid with joy, comfort, and renewed hope alongside their families and loved ones,” the statement read. The gesture further underscores the administration’s inclusive governance philosophy and its determination to ensure that no segment of the workforce is left behind in the government’s people-oriented policies and programmes. Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue implementing people-oriented policies aimed at improving workers’ welfare, boosting productivity, and sustaining an efficient public service.

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The Eid bonus is the latest in a series of worker-friendly initiatives introduced by the Yusuf administration. During the May Day celebration in Kano in April 2026, the governor pledged renewed commitment to workers’ welfare, pension settlement, and civil service reforms. Speaking at the event, he noted that Kano State became one of the first states in Nigeria to implement a new minimum wage of N71,000, a move that reflected the administration’s response to prevailing economic pressures on workers and set a benchmark for other states to follow. The Governor has also implemented significant pension reforms that have brought relief to thousands of retired civil servants. These reforms include the clearance of outstanding pension obligations inherited from the previous administration and an increase in the minimum monthly pension from N5,000 to N20,000. He disclosed that the state has maintained consistent salary payments and described the pension increase as a significant intervention to improve the welfare of senior citizens who served the state diligently. “We have maintained prompt and full payment of salaries and taken bold steps to improve workers’ welfare,” the governor said during the May Day celebration. “We have demonstrated our commitment not only in words but through concrete action.” These statements have been backed by consistent performance, with labour unions in the state acknowledging the administration’s efforts.

Beyond financial interventions, Governor Yusuf has implemented institutional reforms within the civil service that are reshaping the public service landscape in Kano State. These reforms include the establishment of the Local Government Service Commission, which has strengthened career progression, standardized recruitment processes, and harmonised working conditions across the public sector at the local government level. The administration has also rolled out capacity-building programmes for civil servants, including training in information technology, artificial intelligence, financial management, anti-corruption practices, and leadership development. The governor noted that initiatives such as pre-retirement training and professional development workshops are designed to prepare workers for life after service while strengthening efficiency in governance. “Our goal is to build a competent, modern, and forward-looking civil service that meets the demands of today’s governance,” he said. This vision has seen the creation of new ministries, including those for Housing Development, Internal Security, Solid Minerals, and Power & Renewable Energy, as part of broader governance restructuring efforts aimed at making the state machinery more responsive to contemporary challenges.

Governor Yusuf also extended Eid-ul-Adha greetings to civil servants and residents of Kano State, praying for peace, unity, and prosperity in the state and the country at large. The Governor urged workers to continue to discharge their duties with dedication and commitment, assuring them that his administration would continue to prioritize their welfare and wellbeing. The gesture, according to the statement, reflects the administration’s inclusive governance philosophy and its determination to ensure that no segment of the workforce is left behind in the government’s programmes. As Kano State joins the rest of the Muslim world to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, the governor’s approval of the N20,000 goodwill package has been widely praised by civil servant associations and labour unions as a timely intervention that will ease the financial burden of the festive season.

Gov Yusuf Approves N20,000 Eid-ul-Adha Goodwill Package for Civil Servants

FG Declares Two-Day Public Holiday for Eid-ul-Adha Celebration

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28, 2026, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebration across Nigeria.

The declaration was announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a statement issued on Monday through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani.

According to the statement, the public holiday declaration reflects the Federal Government’s recognition of the spiritual significance of Eid-ul-Adha, one of the most important festivals in Islam, observed by millions of Muslims in Nigeria and across the world.

The minister congratulated Muslim faithful both within Nigeria and in the diaspora, describing the festival as a solemn period of sacrifice, devotion, obedience to God and compassion for humanity.

He noted that Eid-el-Kabir, also known as Eid-ul-Adha, commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah’s command, a symbolic act that remains central to Islamic teachings on faith and submission.

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Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians to use the holiday period for prayers and reflection on the country’s unity and collective progress.

“The Federal Government urges all Nigerians to use this period for prayer and sober reflection, asking for divine guidance upon the country as it continues its pursuit of peace, security and prosperity for every citizen,” the statement said.

He also encouraged citizens to embrace the values of brotherhood, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and national unity, stressing the importance of religious harmony and mutual understanding among Nigerians.

The minister called on Muslims to reflect the true spirit of the celebration by extending kindness to the less privileged and promoting acts of charity, which remain key teachings of the festival.

The Federal Government further reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring national peace and stability while wishing Muslims across the country a peaceful, joyous and spiritually fulfilling celebration.

The announcement is expected to trigger increased travel movement across the country as many Nigerians prepare to celebrate with family and loved ones, with transport operators and commercial centres likely to experience heightened activity ahead of the festivities.

Security agencies are also expected to intensify surveillance across major cities, highways and public gathering points to ensure a peaceful celebration nationwide.

Eid-el-Kabir is one of the two major Islamic festivals celebrated annually and is traditionally marked by congregational prayers, animal sacrifice, charity and communal festivities.

FG Declares Two-Day Public Holiday for Eid-ul-Adha Celebration