Two suspected phone snatchers narrowly escape lynching in Abuja

Thursday, October 29 2026 - The police have rescued two suspected phone snatchers from a mob at Dutse-Makaranta, Abuja, following reports of overnight thefts in which residents lost mobile phones, laptops and other valuables.

The suspects were reportedly apprehended by residents in the early hours of Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

Residents said several mobile phones were allegedly found in their possession.

Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Owner Occupier, Kubwa, CSP Paul Danladi, said the division received a distress call on Tuesday morning over a mob attack on the two suspects.

He said a police patrol team immediately rushed to the scene and rescued them.

One of the victims, Lovett Nehemiah, said she discovered around 4am that her phone and purse had been stolen from her home.

Nehemiah said she had plugged in her phone before going to sleep but discovered it missing when she woke up to prepare food for her children.

“I searched everywhere and then went outside, where I discovered that my door was open. I also saw my purse outside. They had taken my phone and purse and dumped them in the bushes,” she said.

She said the purse contained ATM cards linked to GTBank, MoneyPoint and OPay, as well as her National Identification Number (NIN).

According to her, she used a neighbour’s phone to call her number, which rang twice before it was switched off. She added that she had yet to recover her phone after the suspects were apprehended.

Another resident who preferred not to be named said she discovered that her kitchen door had been opened and some plates and other belongings taken outside.

She also recalled seeing someone carrying an object resembling a knife or piece of metal shortly before residents raised the alarm.

"In less than three minutes, I started hearing, ‘Thief! Thief!’ When we came outside, we saw two of them; they had been caught,” she said.

The resident said several people appeared to have been affected by the overnight thefts, with reports of missing phones, laptops and other belongings.