A Lagos-based photography outfit, Eman Pictures, has recovered a stolen MacBook Pro and four external hard drives following a social media campaign that attracted widespread public attention and a ₦500,000 reward offer.

The equipment was reportedly taken from the bride’s room at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, on October 31, 2026, while the photographer was covering a wedding ceremony at the venue.

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The stolen hard drives contained video recordings from five weddings that were yet to be delivered to the couples, making the incident particularly distressing for the photographer and the affected clients.

Seeking public assistance, Eman Pictures released CCTV footage on social media showing a man allegedly entering the room, taking the bag containing the equipment and leaving the hotel.

The photographer subsequently announced a ₦500,000 reward for credible information that could help identify the individual involved and facilitate the recovery of the belongings through the appropriate authorities.

The appeal gained considerable traction online, with photographers, videographers, entertainment platforms and other social media users circulating the footage and encouraging anyone with relevant information to come forward.

In an update posted on Instagram on Thursday, November 5, Eman Pictures confirmed that the missing MacBook and all four external hard drives had been recovered.

However, the photographer disclosed that the files stored on the hard drives had been formatted before the equipment was returned.

Expressing appreciation to those who supported the search, Eman Pictures acknowledged the efforts of individuals and organisations whose reposts, messages, phone calls and encouragement helped amplify the appeal.

The photographer also extended gratitude to fellow creatives, blogs, friends and members of the public who participated in the campaign.

The event planner, Ms Deeeee, who initially raised the alarm about the theft on X, also confirmed the recovery in a separate update.

She expressed appreciation to everyone who contributed to the effort and noted that attempts could still be made to retrieve the formatted files.

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Although the return of the equipment represents a positive development, the possible recovery of the five weddings’ recordings remains a concern, given their importance to the couples awaiting delivery.