A recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that over 25 million mobile phones were stolen in Nigeria between March 2023 and April 2024.
The report indicates that around 17.96 million Nigerians had their phones stolen, with many victims losing more than one device.
The NBS report further highlighted that only about 10% of those affected reported the theft to the police.
This low reporting rate is attributed to a general lack of trust in law enforcement, with many individuals believing that phone theft isn't serious enough to report or that police would be ineffective in resolving the issue.
The thefts often involve armed criminals, with many incidents turning violent. In Port Harcourt, for instance, some victims have been shot or stabbed when resisting the thieves.
Other victims have shared stories of phones being snatched by thieves on motorcycles or while using their phones inside commercial vehicles.
One victim shared with newsmen that his phone was snatched through a bus window while he was using it, illustrating the rising danger and prevalence of phone theft in the country.
This report calls for enhanced security measures and a more effective response from authorities to curb this growing problem.