Comedian Okey Bakassi offers N5m reward to track phone thief at football match

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Nigerian comedian, Okey Bakassi, has offered a ₦5 million reward for information leading to the recovery of stolen phones and the arrest of a suspected thief who allegedly infiltrated a private football gathering in Ikoyi, Lagos.

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Bakassi disclosed this in a video posted on Instagram on Thursday, recounting how an unknown individual joined their weekly football session on Wednesday evening and later made away with several phones.

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According to him, the suspect was allowed to participate in the game out of goodwill but later pretended to be injured and left the pitch.

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He said, “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.”

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The comedian explained that while attention was focused on the game, the suspect allegedly stole multiple phones belonging to players and disappeared.

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“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.

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Bakassi noted that the stolen devices belonged to businessmen whose daily activities depend on their phones, warning that the suspect might attempt to sell them cheaply.

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He revealed that the matter has been reported to the police and that efforts were ongoing to track the suspect, although operational details would not be made public.

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Issuing a direct warning, he gave the suspect a 24-hour ultimatum to return the phones.

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“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.

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To aid recovery, Bakassi announced a cash reward for anyone who can help track the stolen devices.

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“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.

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He also cautioned buyers of second-hand phones to exercise due diligence, advising them to obtain valid identification from sellers to avoid purchasing stolen devices.

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The incident has sparked reactions online, with many expressing concern over security lapses even in controlled recreational settings.

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