Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
A Lagos-based photographer, Eman Pictures, has recovered a stolen MacBook Pro and four external hard drives following a social media appeal that attracted widespread attention after CCTV footage of the suspected theft went viral.
The equipment, which contained footage from five weddings yet to be delivered to the couples, was stolen from the bride’s room at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, on October 31, while the photographer was covering a wedding ceremony.
The theft raised concerns over the possible loss of important wedding memories and professional work, as the four external hard drives contained video footage awaiting delivery to the couples.
Following the incident, Eman Pictures released CCTV footage showing a man allegedly entering the room, picking up the bag containing the equipment and leaving the hotel.
The photographer subsequently appealed to the public for assistance in identifying the suspect and recovering the missing belongings, offering a N500,000 reward for credible information that could lead to their recovery through the appropriate authorities.
The appeal gained traction across social media, with photographers, videographers, entertainment blogs and other users sharing the footage to help trace the missing equipment.
However, in an update posted on Instagram on Thursday, Eman Pictures announced that the MacBook Pro M1 and all four external hard drives had been recovered.
The photographer disclosed that although the equipment had been returned, the files stored on the hard drives had already been formatted.
“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,” the photographer wrote.
Eman Pictures expressed appreciation to everyone who supported the search, particularly those who shared the CCTV footage, made calls, sent messages and helped circulate the appeal.
The photographer also acknowledged the contributions of fellow creatives, bloggers, friends and strangers who joined efforts to recover the stolen equipment.
The recovery was also confirmed by the event planner, Ms Deeeee, who initially raised the alarm about the incident on X.
In her update, she wrote, “Every item has been recovered; even though he formatted the files. it can still be retrieved back. A big thank you to everyone who came through to help out. God bless you.”
