- The phone snatchers confronted him and asked for his phone
A group of assailants have stabbed a man to death in Minna, Niger State, after attempting to steal his mobile phone, according to eyewitness reports.
The victim, identified as Abdulmutalib and believed to be in his early 30s, was attacked around 8 p.m. on Sunday along Old Secretariat Road.
Witnesses say he was accosted by a group of young men, likely in their teens and early twenties, who demanded his phone. Before Abdulmutalib could react, one of the attackers stabbed him in the neck with a dagger, leaving him fatally wounded.
“The phone snatchers confronted him and asked for his phone. 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 recounted, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The incident has heightened concerns among Minna residents over the increasing wave of violent crimes, particularly phone snatching and youth-related unrest.
Local resident Suleiman Kuta expressed frustration at the perceived lack of action by the authorities. He described the surge in criminal activities as a major threat to public safety.
“These hoodlums are taking over Minna. Every day, you hear of attacks, phone snatching, and youth unrest. The authorities seem powerless, and the criminals are known to many, yet nothing is being done,” Kuta lamented.
He warned that if the situation continues unchecked, it could undermine the current administration’s standing on security matters. “The Niger State government and the police need to act fast to prevent further loss of lives,” he added.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, did not initially respond to calls or messages. However, he later confirmed the incident in a brief statement.
“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 said.
The attack has sparked renewed calls for the state government and security agencies to address the growing insecurity in Minna and ensure the safety of residents.