Phone snatching is now a menace that worries residents of Kano State, Northwest Nigeria.
It has become so rampant and has gone beyond the normal street snatching to more unsafe methods of rickshaw (tricycle) riders indulging in this act day and night.
Some of these rickshaw riders connive with their accomplices known as “Jemage” in Hausa to commit the crime.
“Jemage” is known as apprentices to rickshaw riders, they are found sitting next to the riders seat.
Statistics from Kano state Police Command show that over 1, 220 phone snatchers were arrested within eleven months as of 2021 which estimated a daily arrest of local thugs.
In an exclusive interview with some tricycle riders in Kano state, expressed their sadness at fellow mischief makers towards tarnishing the reputation of the tricycle transportation business in the state.
While enrouting with Usman Muhammad, a tricycle rider from Hotoro to Zoo road expressed his grievances over some fellow riders who indulge in the act of phone snatching saying “I am not happy whenever passengers tagged tricycle riders as phone criminals, it has reached an extent that I wanted to stop the tricycle business”.
He further explained that “most of passengers currently prefer taking a drop as they feel unsafe especially during night hours, these phone snatchers have a different outlook in terms of dressing, hairstyles and approach of communication but, some look decent as if they can not commit the crime”. He said.
Another tricyclist found parking his vehicle at Tarauni area of Kano state looking unkept was questioned, most people think that riders who dress like you are thugs, what can you say about that?
He replied: “Actually, some people think most shaggy people are criminals which to some extent is true. But like me, I choose to dress this way because it fancy me alot”.
But they say you will be addressed the way you dress, don’t you think this might affect your business?
He replied: ” I don’t care what people think about my dressing but it has affected my business on getting passengers, sometimes, while I am on the road riding, if a passenger stop me, sometimes they choose not to board my vehicle.
Kano Police gives insight on arrests
Daily News 24 in an interview with S.P Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, Public Relations Officer Kano State Police Command gave insight on the menace of phone snatching in the state.
“Phone Snatching is more prominent in the 8 Kano Metropolis, Gwale, Nassarawa, Ungogo, Kumbotso, Kano Municipal, Fagge, Dala and Tarauni LGA while other LGA are under reported.
“With the continuous strategy set in place by the Commissioner of Police, Sama’ila Dikko, phone snatching has reduced while constant raids of criminals’ hideouts are still in action.
“The perpetrators disguise themselves as tricycle operators or passengers while they attack and snatch mobile phones from their passengers” He said.
S.P Kiyawa disclosed that massive sensitization was carried out to educate the public on how they can recognise and protect themselves from the snatchers.
Stressing that sometimes, It is the fault of the victims bringing out their phones while on mobile.
We collaborate with vigilante – Police
One of the strategies we developed in the first quarter of 2022 is collaborating with vigilante and community residents.
“Over 1000 thugs were arrested last year which led to the discovery of others and most are drug dealers”.
He added that the crimes are minimised unlike before.
What leads to Phone snatching
S.P Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa said most factors that cause phone snatching are; parental negligence, large population, and drug abuse.
“We focus more on dealing with drug abuse because it reduces many crimes in the society”.
He further advised perpetrators to refrain from heinous activities that will distort the peace of Kano state.
Perpetrators narrate their ordeal
Ismail Abdullahi, an 18-year-old who lives in Hotoro narrated that “I came to Kano to visit my brother from Maiduguri who did not believe I was in the state, left me to wander around with no food and money until someone from Maiduguri at Naibawa park who convinced me to join him in the act”.
“We hired a tricycle, while I served as the jemage, to silently steal phones from passengers while the rider engaged them in a distractive discussion.
“We successfully stole two phones, we were caught in the act.
“I have repented, I just want to go back home” He said.
Abdullahi Kororo, 20 years old rickshaw riders claimed to have recruited and engaged youths in the act of phone snatching.
“I have been charged to court twice in this act and I regret indulging because there is no gain in committing crime” He added.
Sani Alkassim, another phone snatcher revealed that we bought sophisticated knives from Murtala Sidi.
Murtala Sidi, Sheriff from Jaen who sells sophisticated knives to perpetrators revealed that
“I have been selling knives since I was young. I only sell my knives to local vigilante group members”.
Victims narrate their ordeal
A victim at Jaen, who was stabbed by Sani Alkassim at his frontage said “it was around 9:39 pm when I was sitting and chatting alone outside my house. Some youths intruded and asked for my infinix c5 which I gave to them.
“A minute later, they returned and stabbed me on my chest and I screamed for rescue when my neighbours came to my aid” He said.
Muhammad Saminu a student of Kano State School of Management said to have
Snatched his phone twice narrated that ” I was at the front of coffee and more after a night of ecstasy with friends. I received a call from my mother who needed to see me.
“Standing at the roadside, waiting for a tricycle, some group of youth surrounded and forcefully collected my infinix S5 pro with my transport fare and while my iPhone 6 was snatched at Magwan”.
The Kano state police command advised the public to have Police emergency numbers (08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926) report cases through their “NPF rescue me” application where Police can detect their locations.
