Residents Raise Alarm Over Overnight Thefts As Police Rescue Two Suspects In Abuja

Police operatives have rescued two suspected phone snatchers from an angry mob in Dutse-Makaranta, Abuja, following reports of overnight thefts in which residents allegedly lost mobile phones, laptops and other valuables.

The suspects were reportedly apprehended by residents in the early hours of Tuesday, October 27, 2026, with several mobile phones 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 regarding a mob attack on the two suspects. He explained that a police patrol team immediately responded and rescued them from the crowd.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the incident occurred amid growing concerns among residents over alleged overnight burglaries in the community, with some victims recounting how their belongings were taken from their homes.

One of the affected residents, Lovett Nehemiah, said she discovered around 4 a.m. that her mobile phone and purse had been stolen. She explained that she had plugged in her phone before going to bed but noticed it was missing when she woke up to prepare food for her children.

Nehemiah said she searched her home before going outside, where she discovered that her door had been left open and her purse had been abandoned in nearby bushes. According to her, the purse contained ATM cards linked to GTBank, MoneyPoint and OPay, as well as her National Identification Number.

She added that she borrowed a neighbour’s phone to call her number, which rang twice before it was switched off. However, she said she had not recovered her phone even after the suspects were apprehended.

Another resident, who requested anonymity, said she discovered that her kitchen door had been opened and some plates and other belongings had been taken outside.

The resident also recalled seeing an individual carrying an object that resembled a knife or a piece of metal shortly before an alarm was raised in the neighbourhood.

She said the situation escalated within minutes, as residents began shouting “Thief!” and rushed outside, where they found two suspects had been caught.

The police rescue prevented the suspects from remaining at the mercy of the crowd. However, the available account did not provide details about possible charges or confirm whether all the stolen items had been recovered.