The theft of a photographer’s bag at a Lagos wedding event has prompted creatives to share accounts of similar thefts involving a man they say they have encountered at events over the past decade.
Photographer Eman (@eman_pictures) is on the search for a man who allegedly stole his bag from inside the bride’s room while covering a wedding at Oriental Hotel in Lagos on October 31.
According to the photographer, the bag contained his MacBook Pro M1 and four external hard drives holding footage from approximately five weddings still to be delivered to clients. In his urgent public appeal, Eman wrote: 
“These are not just files. They are people’s once-in-a-lifetime memories, months of hard work and my livelihood.”
CCTV footage captured the man entering the area, taking the bag, and walking out of the hotel. Eman is now offering a N500,000 reward for credible information that leads to the thief’s identification and the recovery of the equipment.
However, that single post has now blown open a much bigger story.
Lagos Creatives Share Similar Experiences of Event Thefts
Several people have since identified the man in the CCTV footage as allegedly involved in event thefts where their belongings or those of people they worked with were stolen.
Gospel artist and vocal coach Kunle Kenny saw the footage and immediately recognised the man. He said that 10 years earlier, the same man stole his bag, which contained his laptop, hard drives of recorded songs he spent millions producing, and his international passport.
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A bride’s phone reportedly stolen at Oriental Hotel in 2023
Event planner (@kim_luxe_events) said that the same man allegedly stole a bride’s phone inside the bridal suite at Oriental Hotel in April 2023. The bride, @meecappy, also confirmed, writing: “This guyyyyy he took my phone on my wedding day. I swear he is the one.”
According to Kim Luxe Events, they had just noticed he was not part of the media crew before he disappeared.
Two laptops reportedly stolen at another Oriental Hotel event
Another creative, @anonymousvisualz, also testified that in August 2023, also at Oriental Hotel, the identified man stole two laptops. They explained that the man posed as a photographer with a camera around his neck, took the bags to the toilet, removed the laptops, and left.
The devices were later tracked via Apple Find My to Ojuelegba. According to @anonymousvisualz, crew members later realised from casual photos that he had been trying to hide his face.
Lagos Business School event theft
Another entrepreneur, @thesandypreneur, says the same man allegedly stole a bag containing a laptop, phones, and important items belonging to a delegate at a Lagos Business School event (a gathering of CEOs) in January 2026. His image was extracted from CCTV and circulated, yet he continued operating.
Assistant’s iPhone allegedly stolen by same man at Monarch
Event Planner @kellypremiumevents_ wrote that two years ago at Monarch, he stole an assistant’s iPhone 15 while posing as part of the crew during a sports event setup. He was caught on camera and appeared unbothered by surveillance.
Camera and phone reportedly stolen at Landmark
Another Lagos creative @slimstudios also wrote that about eight years ago at Landmark, he stole a camera and a phone.
They say the police at Maroko later helped recover the items after he was caught at another event. He was reportedly released to his family after claims that he was “running mad.”
The Pattern of Event Thefts and Targeting of Lagos Creatives
Over more than a decade, the method has remained consistent.
The identified man reportedly steals high-value electronics and digital work products, including laptops, MacBooks, external hard drives containing client work, phones, and camera equipment. These are items that represent livelihood and irreplaceable files for creatives.
His Targets
He targets photographers, media crew, event planners and their assistants, bridal parties, musicians, and professionals attending high-value gatherings. He often blends in by posing as a photographer or crew member.
Places he commonly operates
According to the testimonies of different victims, his stealing operations are done in high-end hotels and event venues. Oriental Hotel in Lagos appeared repeatedly (2023 bridal suite, August 2023 laptops, and the October 31, 2026 incident).
Other locations include Landmark, Monarch, Lagos Business School, and venues in Ikeja. He strikes when people are busy working or distracted, frequently inside bridal suites, halls, or setup areas.
From Kunle Kenny’s theft around 2016, through incidents in 2018, 2023, 2024, early 2026, and now October 31, 2026, the same man keeps appearing on CCTVs at Lagos events.
Eman’s appeal has therefore brought attention to the security concerns faced by people working at major events, particularly when they have to carry valuable equipment into busy venues.
As more people share their experiences of event thefts, creatives are calling for greater vigilance at events and a proper investigation into the allegations.
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