Ikeja Computer Village theft and scams surge as buyers and traders report stolen phones and fake devices; authorities push for market relocation to Katangowa

Nigeria’s largest technology trading hub, Ikeja Computer Village, is facing a surge in phone theft and scams, with traders and buyers raising concerns over escalating criminal activity within the market.

Also read: Lagos begins Computer Village relocation to Katangowa

Investigations reveal that stolen phones often disappear within minutes, leaving victims shocked and questioning how the theft occurred.

Kunle Adebayo, a commercial bus driver, recounted: “It was like a movie trick. My phone was in my pocket. I checked it two minutes later and it was gone. No push, no fight, nothing. Since then, I don’t like going into the main market anymore.”

Passersby and shoppers report similar experiences, particularly in crowded corridors and narrow walkways.

University student Blessing Eze said, “Once you enter here, you have to be extra careful. People say it’s like a charm, but I think these people are just very smart thieves.”

Beyond theft, phone scams, including the sale of counterfeit devices known as “China phones,” have emerged as a significant problem.

Sadiq Bello recounted, “My friend bought an iPhone here, everything looked real. Two days later, it stopped working automatically. When she returned, the seller had disappeared.”

Shoppers also warn of instant scams at market entrances and roadside stalls.

Fashion designer Chiamaka Okorie said, “They will agree on a price, show you one phone, but once you bring out money, they swap it. By the time you realise, the person is gone.”

Legitimate dealers inside the market report being victimised by these thefts as well. Abubakar, CEO of ABK Phones, said, “We get shouted at almost every day. Someone buys a phone, walks two shops away, and the phone is gone. They come back angry, accusing us, but we don’t know anything about it.”

The Secretary of the Computer Village Traders Association, Babatunde Akinwale, confirmed the union is aware of the growing complaints and is working with security operatives to identify fake phone sellers and other criminal elements.

“Most of these roadside sellers are not our members. We are doing everything possible to sanitise the market,” Akinwale said.

Authorities are also pressing for a long-planned relocation. In September 2025, the Lagos State Government gave traders an 18-month deadline to move to a new permanent site at Katangowa, Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area.

The relocation aims to provide a more organised, secure environment with necessary infrastructure.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, said, “Katangowa has been designated as the permanent site for this market. It sits on 15 hectares of land, well-planned and strategically located near essential resources for your businesses.”