By Muhammad Rabiu Isah
Phones snatching has become day-to-day activity, permeative and violent crime in Kano, Nigeria, particularly in Kano Metropolitan. Often, causing injuries, economic losses, trauma and sometime lives.
This report focuses on occurrences of phone snatching, highlighting specific incidents and victims, names of notorious black spot areas, evaluating modus operandi of the perpetrators and proffering actionable solutions to tackling the menace.
Occurrence of phone snatching frequently in Kano is not something newly to the residents, particularly Kano Metropolitans. However, the question on everyone’s lips is that; Does these yan daba (thugs) overpowered security agencies and Kano State government? Below are notable incidents that underscore the gravity of the menace:
Recently in Dorayi Karshen Waya, Oga Ali’s Street, (Gwale LGA), August 3, 2025 a student of Bayero University Kano (BUK), Umar Abdullahi Hafizi, a 300-level Sociology department was killed in a cold-blood by gang of thugs around 11:30pm to 12:00am.
The deceased went to collect his Power Bank from charging point, were these perpetrators pursued him and stabbed him to death. Another victim in the same night, a Senior Special Reporter (SSR) to incumbent Governor of Kano State on History and Culture, Sadiq Gentle was attacked by phone snatcher inside his home, the thugs having burgled into his house and left him with several injuries.
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Gente was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced death after few days receiving medical attention.
In May, 2023 Abba Jaafar, a kiosk selling phone accessories died en- route to hospital after he was stabbed by phone snatcher, adjacent to Aminu Kano College of Legal and Islamic Studies (Legal), along Bayero University, Kano (BUK) way in Kano Metropolis.
On May 17, 2025 Alaramma Lawan Abdullahi of Emir’s Palace (Gidan Sarki) area, a well Known Islamic teacher and expert a victim of phone snatcher, was stabbed to death at Fagge Local Government area, he tried to resist the pressure before they overpowered him.
Similarly, 0n June 11, 2025 Yazid Haruna of Sheka Quarters, Kano was stabbed in his home around 3:00am and rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital before passing away. Also one sadiya of Bubbugaji, told our correspondent that in a brought daylight three thugs threat her with sharp object to surrender her phone to them.
However, there are some notable arrests made by security agencies, in May 2025, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), arrested five suspected phone snatchers: Faisal Usman 28-year-old, Mansur Isa (38), Abdullah Bashir (28), Zulkifil Bello (25), and Ahmad Ibrahim 21 years.
While parading them before the press, the Public Relation Officer of the Kano Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp, NSCDC, SC Ibrahim Idris Abdullahi identified the suspects as phone snatching syndicates along Sabon/Garin, Fagge Local Government in Kano Metropolitan.
Additionally, on December 21, 2024, Kano Police apprehended a female-led phone-snatching syndicate operating in different location at Kano Metropolitan.
The Kano Command Spokesman of the Nigeria Police, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa said in a statement that the ringleader was 19-year-old Shamsiya Adam along four accomplices; Al’asan Dahiru 24-year-old, Salim Auwalu 21-year-old, Idris Yusuf 23-year-old, and Abdulmajid Haruna, six phones were recovered from them and over 25 people lodged some complaints.
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Moreover, In September 2024, police operations nabbed 26 suspects, nexus to mobile phone snatching and armed robbery; they also discovered 126 stolen phones, weapons, and illicit drugs.
In June 2025, group of people and vigilantes in Guringawa (Kumbotso LGA) arrested two men Dini Auwal and Naziru Abubakar alleged phone snatchers at knifepoint of a lady returning back home.
The Kano State police command reported the arrest of over 150 suspects in the first half of 2025 which indicate the persisting of the crime in the state.
Black spot Areas for Phone Snatching:
Phone snatcher perpetrators concentrated at overcrowded, populated and high traffic areas, leveraging the congestion to carry out their crime.
According to security Analyst, Sani Musa some of the areas prone to phone snatching include: Zoo road, Dan Agundi/Rumfa College, Dorayi, Fagge, Kabuga, Hauren Wanki, Hauren Legal, Ja’en Kwanar Makabarta, Kofar Mata, Tudun Maliki, Sheka, IBB Way, Race Course, Sabon Titi underpass, Kano Guest Inn and closing hours of all major markets in Kano Metropolitans.
Modus Operandi of Phone Snatchers
Phone snatchers in Kano adopt difference tactics/logic in conducting their activity, often characterized by speed, violence, and opportunism. Their methodology has evolved into sophisticated and organize enterprise as listed below: Use of Tricycles (Keke Napep): often time, phones snatcher using Keke Napep with one passenger sitting inside and one sitting beside the driver.
They target victims who put his phone in front of his pocket or side, by asking him where are you going? What so ever is your reply, the answer is; enter, let go. When they reached some point, the other guy sitting beside of the driver will move back and the driver will deliberate press break, the passenger inside will use the opportunity and snatch the phone by using force or weapon they have.
Aminu Galadanci of Dan Malik Quarters, narrated what happened to him from Zoo road to Dan Maliki, on fateful day his phone was stolen by tricycle drivers.
He said when they reached Tukuntawa, the driver said to him pardon, we’re changing route to Tudun Maliki. When he dropped he search for his phone, they’re larceny it.
Some time they target victims inside or near tricycles, snatching phones through open windows or doors before speeding off.
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Snatcher on motorcycle, often in pairs, ride up to pedestrians or slow-moving vehicles, grab phones, and escape quickly. This method is prevent in areas like Kofar Nasarawa, Zoo road and BUK way.
Knife-point Robbery: Extortion, one of the most Modus Operandi of phones snatcher, using knives or sharp object to intimidate victims. The deaths of Abdullahi a level 3 student of BUK and Alaramma Jabir were as a result of knife attacked involved.
Gang Operation: often time, these thugs use the opportunity of festivities, such as Sallah Durbar (Hawan Sallah), political rally/campaigns and any other gathering during married ceremony.
Targeting Vulnerable Times and Places: Perpetrators operating during peak hours (morning and evening commutes) or at night when the movement of people is low. Bus stop, traffic junction, secluded paces are the prime target.
However, the audacity and uses of weapons in a brought daylight attack by these perpetrators indicate for a collective efforts between security agencies and the public to check the menace and dastardly act.
Proffered Solution to Tackle Phone Snatching
To address the menace of phone snatching syndicates in Kano requires a multi-faceted approach that is inclusive and with short-term and long-term strategies.
The Short-term Strategies according Kano State Judiciary Public Relationship Officer (PRO), Baba Jibo Ibrahim, stressed the need for five branches of general administration of criminal justice which compresses Law Enforcement (Police), Prosecution, Judiciary (Courts), Correctional Services (Prisons) and Defense (Legal Aid/Public Defense) to fear God and discharge their duty accordingly and to put the Nation first above anything, because there are the backbone of criminal justice system, working together to ensure; Justice for victims, fair treatment of the accused and public safety and trust in the system., “if one of the backbone have fracture the remaining system will be vulnerable.
Amb. Jamilu Bala Gama the Chairman of Farm center, phone market one of the biggest mobile phones market in West Africa, He said it is very easy to detect a stolen phone, because you will discover that the phone with a pack or receipt show the phone belong to the seller, secondly, from bargaining, a phone of seven hundred plus, the seller will be requesting less than one hundred thousand naira and thirdly, from apparent appearance of the seller you will understand.
Furthermore, according to the chairman, before his election, the market didn’t have biodata of its members, but we have achieved establishing Bio data and means of identifications of all members of the Association.
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Baba Jibo Ibrahim emphasized that phone snatching involving weapons qualifies as robbery, and when a weapon is used, it escalates to armed robbery. This type of crime instills fear of immediate death in victims and carries heavier penalties.
He explained that while some crimes share similar elements, the time and location of the offense significantly affect the punishment:
Daylight Robbery (between 6:30 AM and 6:30 PM): – Punishable by 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Nighttime Robbery (between 6:30 PM and 6:30 AM): – If committed in a dwelling-house or on a highway, the penalty increases to 14 years’ imprisonment.
If committed with dangerous weapons at night, it is punishable by life imprisonment.
However, Baba Jibo noted that the real challenge lies in how prosecutors instituted and presented these cases in court. The effectiveness of prosecution can determine whether justice is served and appropriate penalties are applied
Amb. Jamilu Bala Gama, said when you want to buy a secondhand phone or fair used, make sure it has pack and receipt, the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is align with the phone.
The Long-term strategies
The long-term strategies required a comprehensive approach involving security agencies, government, communities and individuals. Below are proffered solutions categorized under enforcement, prevention, and community engagement:Law Enforcement and Security: increase Police patrols and mobile police units especially in hotspots such as bus stops, traffic junction and high way.
Installing CCTV cameras in strategic areas like GSM Markets, roundabout and busy ways.
Use of Intelligence: Gather intelligence from spies, informants’ surveillance, individuals and repent thugs to target known snatching gangs and hideouts.
Technology-Based Solutions: such as Track-and-Recover system, promote the use of tracking apps, Mobile Network Blacklist partner with telecom provider, and data sharing platforms.Regulation of Phone Markets by enforcement of ID verification mandate, ensure all phone repairs and reseller are registered with the Kano State Ministry of Commerce or under one umbrella, i.e GSM Market Association
Community Engagement and Awareness: such as Neighborhood watch groups, and public awareness and/or individual safety measures.
Conclusion
Phone snatching is one of the major problems rapidly spreading across Kano Metropolitan, with daily reports of injuries, economic losses, and even loss of lives. This is exemplified by tragic cases such as the recent murder of Abdullahi, a Level 3 student of BUK, and Sadiq Gentle, Senior Special Reporter to the Kano State Governor on History and Culture.
The perpetrators carry out their illegal activities with confidence and audacity, making it a pressing security challenge. Black spot areas like Dorayi Axis, Sharada, Zoo Road, Kabuga, Dan Agundi, and Kofar Mazugal have become hotspots due to high traffic and lax security. These criminals often operate using tricycles, motorcycles, knives, and other methods.
Proposed solutions include increasing government surveillance, investing in youth employment and drug rehabilitation programs, strengthening community policing in hotspot areas, and consistently treating phone snatching as armed robbery.
Recommendations
The government should enact a law that makes buying used phones less attractive in order to minimize the menace. Any phone without a pack or receipt should require either the buyer or the seller to present a court affidavit as proof of ownership.
Secondly, anyone who breaches the above law should be imprisoned without the option of a fine. This will make the buying and selling of used phones significantly more difficult through stricter procedures, thereby making the illicit business of phone snatching less appealing.
Muhammad Rabiu Isah is Kano based public affairs commentator