Hoodlums stab man to death in Niger phone snatching incident

A group of hoodlums have brutally stabbed a man, identified as Abdulmutalib, to death in Minna, Niger State, after attempting to snatch his phone.

Eyewitnesses reported that the incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Sunday along Old Secretariat Road. Abdulmutalib, believed to be in his early 30s, was walking when the assailants accosted him, demanding his mobile phone. Before he could respond, one of the attackers fatally stabbed him in the neck with a dagger.

“The phone snatchers were young men, likely in their 20s and teens. They confronted him, asked for his phone, and without waiting for a response, one of them stabbed him. They fled with his phone, and by the time help arrived, he was already dead,” an eyewitness, who declined to be named, said.

Residents of Minna have expressed growing concern over the surge in violent crimes, particularly phone snatching.

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Suleiman Kuta, a resident of the city, lamented the authorities’ failure to curb the menace, describing the situation as a threat to public safety.

“These hoodlums are taking over Minna. Every day, you hear of attacks, phone snatching, and youth unrest. On safety and security matters, no one seems to be in charge. These criminals are known to many, yet nothing is being done. The authorities seem powerless,” Kuta said in frustration.

He further criticized the Niger State government and the police for their apparent inaction, warning that if the trend continues, the Bago administration could be deemed a failure on security matters.

“We need to start asking why the government is neglecting the security of lives and property. The situation is spiralling out of control, and the state police command needs to act fast to prevent further loss of lives.”

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, initially did not respond to several calls or messages.

However, by Tuesday morning, he confirmed the incident in a brief message.

“The victim was rushed to General Hospital, Minna, where he was confirmed dead. The case is under investigation, and efforts to apprehend the suspects are ongoing,” Abiodun’s message read.