Nigerian comedian, Okey Bakassi, has announced a ₦5 million reward for anyone who can help track a man accused of stealing several mobile phones during a private football session in Ikoyi.
Bakassi made the disclosure in a video shared on Instagram on Thursday, narrating how the suspected thief allegedly infiltrated their weekly football gathering on Wednesday evening before making away with multiple phones belonging to players.
According to the comedian, the suspect joined the football session after being allowed to participate out of goodwill. However, after playing briefly, the man reportedly pretended to be injured and left the pitch.
“This evening, 15th of April 2026, where we play football every Wednesday evening in Ikoyi, a young man came to play with us. Out of our own kindness, we allowed him to join us,” Bakassi said in the video.
He explained that while attention was focused on the game, the suspect allegedly moved to the stands and stole several mobile phones before disappearing.
“He played for a little bit and feigned injury, went to the stands to sit. While we were carried away playing football, this criminal carted away people’s phones. Took about eight handsets and disappeared,” he said.
Bakassi noted that the stolen phones belonged mostly to businessmen whose daily activities rely heavily on their devices. He warned that the suspect might attempt to sell the phones cheaply in the second-hand market.
The comedian added that the matter had already been reported to the police, noting that efforts were underway to track the suspect, although specific operational details could not be disclosed.
Issuing a direct warning to the alleged thief, Bakassi gave him a 24-hour ultimatum to return the stolen devices.
“If you’re the one who came out this evening to play with us and you feel that the way to pay us back is to cart away phones and vanish, we will find you. It will only take time. In your best interest, you have the next 24 hours to return those phones back to the security post where you took them from,” he said.
To support efforts to recover the devices, Bakassi promised a cash reward to anyone who can help locate any of the phones.
“For everyone else who knows how to track phones, contact me in my DM. There’s a five million naira waiting for whoever can track any one of those phones,” he added.
He also advised people who buy second-hand phones to verify the identity of sellers and obtain valid documentation to avoid purchasing stolen devices.