Nigerian celebrity photographer recovers stolen bag after viral CCTV footage captures suspect

By Damilola Akinwale –

A Lagos-based celebrity photographer, Eman Pictures, whose bag containing a MacBook Pro and four external hard drives was stolen at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, has recovered all the items following a social media appeal.

The bag was reportedly stolen from the bride’s room on October 31 while the photographer was covering a wedding at the hotel.

The four external hard drives contained footage from five weddings yet to be delivered to the couples, raising concerns about the possible loss of important memories and the photographer’s work.

Following the incident, Eman Pictures appealed for public assistance on social media to identify the suspect. CCTV footage showed a man allegedly entering the room, taking the bag and hurriedly leaving the hotel.

In the appeal, the photographer explained the contents of the bag and what was at stake, offering a N500,000 reward to anyone with credible information that could lead to the suspect’s identification and the recovery of the stolen items.

The appeal quickly gained traction online, with photographers, videographers, blogs and other social media users sharing the footage and calling for information. Some creatives also alleged that the suspect had stolen their belongings at previous events.

In an update shared on Instagram on Friday, Eman Pictures announced that all the stolen items had been recovered, although the files on the hard drives had been formatted. The suspect was identified as Timothy Mbachu and subsequently apprehended.

“I’m grateful to announce that my stolen MacBook and all four hard drives have been recovered. Although the hard drives had already been formatted, I’m thankful to have my equipment back,” he wrote, thanking those who helped amplify his appeal.