What was meant to be a solemn evening of tribute and mourning for late Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo turned into a hunting ground for pickpockets, as multiple high-profile attendees had their phones stolen. The Service of Songs, held on Wednesday night at The Monarch Event Centre in Lekki, Lagos, drew an extensive crowd of entertainment industry giants, dignitaries, and clerics gathering to pay their final respects following the actor’s tragic passing from kidney cancer.
However, as the evening concluded, several celebrities realized they had been targeted by thieves who capitalized on the emotional crowd. Fellow actor Stan Nze later voiced his disgust online, revealing that more than five mobile phones went missing during the memorial program
Victims track missing devices to Lagos Island digital black markets
Media personality and actress Bamike Olawunmi, popularly known as Bambam, was among the first to sound the alarm on Thursday morning. She revealed that her phone was sleekly lifted right out of her bag during the service. Using tracking software immediately after the event, Bambam monitored her device moving deep into the heart of Lagos’ commercial center.
“I already tracked it instantly last night. Last known location was Nnamdi Azikiwe Street Lagos Island. It has not moved from there. Now it just says Lagos Island. It’s probably sold or dismantled.”
Nnamdi Azikiwe Street is notorious as a major hub for the resale, recycling, and dismantling of stolen electronic devices on Lagos Island, indicating the thieves wasted no time moving the stolen goods.
Susan Peters appeals for return of locked US roaming line
Shortly after Bambam’s public post, veteran actress Susan Peters took to Instagram to announce that her white iPhone 16 Pro Max had also been stolen from her at the exact same venue. Peters expressed profound shock that individuals could possess the audacity to steal at a funeral event, especially following a moving, God-fearing sermon delivered by prominent cleric Pastor Jerry Eze during the service.
Because her premium device relies on a digital eSIM configured with her roaming United States phone line, the actress noted that her team cannot even place standard cellular calls to ring the phone or negotiate with whoever holds it. The device features a distinct picture of Peters as its primary lock screen wallpaper. Urgently requesting public reposts across social networks, the actress pleaded for the return of the hardware and explicitly promised a cash reward for anyone who safely recovers or returns the missing phone.
