A man has been accused of stealing a purse containing two mobile phones, ATM cards and other valuables during a service of songs held in honour of late Nigerian actor Chijioke Nwokafor, popularly known as Cjay Nwok, in Lagos State.
The incident reportedly occurred at a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Gbagada, where family members, colleagues, friends and other sympathisers gathered to pay their respects to the deceased actor.
According to accounts accompanying the circulating CCTV footage, the purse belonged to an attendee identified as Rexking.
The footage reportedly shows a man sitting close to where the purse had been placed while guests exchanged pleasantries during the gathering. He was subsequently seen allegedly taking the item and blending into the crowd.
The man was later captured moving to a corner, where he reportedly transferred the purse into a purple nylon bag.
According to the account accompanying the footage, the suspect then returned to the area and remained seated, apparently observing other attendees and valuables placed nearby.
Other guests, identified in the account as Kenzie and Cardi, were reportedly among those whose phones were positioned close to where the man had been sitting.
The allegations have drawn attention because the incident reportedly occurred during a memorial gathering organised to honour a deceased entertainer, an occasion where attendees would ordinarily expect to mourn and offer support to the bereaved family.
The reported incident also highlights the importance of safeguarding personal belongings at crowded events, including religious gatherings, funerals and public ceremonies where attendees may be distracted by conversations and other activities.
CCTV footage can provide investigators with useful leads, but the identity of a person shown in a video and the circumstances surrounding an alleged offence must be established through proper verification.
As of the information available for this report, an official police statement confirming the suspect’s identity, an arrest or the recovery of the missing items was not provided.
The allegation therefore remains subject to investigation, and the man should not be treated as guilty unless the evidence is established through the appropriate legal process.
Anyone with credible information about the reported incident should provide it to the relevant authorities rather than relying solely on social media identification or speculation.
The incident serves as a reminder that security arrangements at public gatherings must account not only for the safety of attendees but also for the protection of their personal belongings, particularly at events where large crowds may make it difficult to notice suspicious activity.