Why Some Gorgeously Dressed Ladies Steal Food, Plates, and Cutlery at Owambes

 As surprising as it may sound, not every elegantly dressed lady at an owambe is there to celebrate the host. While many genuinely show up to honour the celebrant and enjoy the festivities, others attend solely for the free food — a trend worsened by the current economic hardship that has pushed many Nigerians into food insecurity.

But beyond coming for food, some guests engage in activities far from honourable. They discreetly steal plates, spoons, forks, napkins and even decorative items like LED candles. This growing behaviour not only embarrasses hosts but also leaves caterers incurring heavy losses.

Several caterers who spoke to Economy & Lifestyle revealed that these acts are becoming increasingly common among women who appear sophisticated and well-to-do. They attribute this trend to the rising struggle for survival.

Mrs. Harietta Lawrence, a caterer, lamented:
“Not everyone at a party is sensible or okay. Some guests have shown me shege pro max. They take my forks, glass cups and even champagne glasses. If I bring 200 to an event, I may end up with only 190 after. Some remove table covers and napkins to pack extra chicken and small chops. Others even take LED candles used for table decorations.”

According to her, the culprits are mostly women dressed in expensive-looking outfits.
“People think they’ve ‘arrived,’ but many of the items they wear are borrowed,” she added.

Another caterer, Mrs. Owodunni Alakija, noted that it’s not only guests who steal—drivers and security personnel also take plates and cutlery.
“Once they are served, they hide the plates in their cars or posts. LED lights, napkins, cups — they’re never complete after an event,” she said.

To curb losses, she now includes a ‘damage fee’ in her charges to event hosts.

Event planner and caterer, Mr. Lucky Iduzogie, described the situation as “unbearable.”
“Between July and now, over 200 plates have gone missing from events I catered. I’ve lost count of spoons, napkins and cups. Some guests collect food meant for ten people. Then the host complains that we didn’t serve enough guests. It affects our reputation.”

Mrs. Faith Braimoh, a kitchen accessories dealer, condemned the act as shameful.
“A quality ceramic plate costs between ₦3,000 and ₦5,000, while a dozen good stainless steel spoons sells for ₦25,000 and above. Champagne glass sets can cost ₦50,000 to ₦100,000. When people steal these items, the losses pile up quickly,” she explained.

She added that there are affordable options like unbreakable plates and plastic cups, making such theft unnecessary and dishonourable.

In a time when the economy is biting hard, the rising theft of tableware and party items at owambes reflects deeper social challenges  and the desperate measures some people now take just to cope.