A Lagos-based photographer has recovered his stolen equipment after CCTV footage showing the suspected theft at the Oriental Hotel went viral on social media, prompting widespread public assistance.

The photographer, identified on social media as Tola, associated with the handle @eman_pictures, said the stolen items included a MacBook Pro M1 and four external hard drives containing photographs and videos from five weddings yet to be delivered to clients.

The incident occurred on October 31, when he was covering a wedding ceremony at the hotel. According to his account, the bag was taken from the bride's room, where it had been kept during the event.

Following the incident, the photographer shared CCTV footage showing a man allegedly entering the room, taking the bag and leaving the premises.

He appealed to Nigerians to help identify the individual and announced a ₦500,000 reward for credible information that could lead to the identification of the suspect and recovery of the belongings through the appropriate authorities.

The appeal attracted widespread attention, with social media users sharing the footage and recounting similar experiences involving alleged thefts at event venues in Lagos.

On Thursday, November 5, the photographer announced that all the stolen items had been recovered.

He, however, disclosed that the files on the external hard drives had been formatted, although he remained hopeful that the wedding photographs and videos could still be retrieved.

He thanked members of the public who shared his appeal, provided information and supported efforts to recover the equipment.

The incident also prompted other creatives to recount alleged thefts involving laptops, cameras and other valuables at events, raising concerns about security arrangements at hotels and major event venues.

Some social media users claimed to have encountered the same individual in previous incidents, including thefts involving event professionals and their equipment.

Details of the recovery operation and the whereabouts of the suspected thief had not been publicly established as of the time of reporting.