Phone Thefts and Device Scams Surge at Ikeja Computer Village, Fueling Fear Among Shoppers

Story: written by Springnewsng Media limited February 11,2026
Ikeja Computer Village, Nigeria’s biggest hub for phones and electronic gadgets, is increasingly grappling with rising cases of phone theft and device-related scams, leaving traders and customers worried about safety within and around the market.
Once celebrated as the nerve centre of the country’s gadget economy, the bustling Lagos market is now shadowed by frequent reports of phones vanishing within minutes of purchase, often without any physical confrontation. Victims say the thefts usually occur in crowded walkways, narrow shop corridors and negotiation points where buyers briefly let down their guard.
Kunle Adebayo, a commercial bus driver, recalled losing his phone moments after stepping into the market. “There was no struggle. I checked my pocket two minutes later and the phone was gone. Since that day, I avoid the inner market,” he said.
Others share similar fears. A university student, Blessing Eze, said heightened alertness has become the norm for visitors. “I hold my phone tightly whenever I’m here. People talk about tricks, but I think these are just highly skilled thieves,” she noted.
Beyond theft, scams involving fake or swapped phones are also widespread. Unsuspecting buyers are often sold counterfeit devices packaged to resemble popular brands, only discovering the deception after leaving the market. In some cases, sellers vanish before complaints can be made.
According to Sadiq Bello, a buyer’s friend purchased what appeared to be a genuine iPhone. “Everything looked original, but two days later it stopped working. When she returned, the seller was nowhere to be found,” he said.
Other victims describe swift swap scams, especially around roadside stalls and market entrances. Buyers are shown one phone, but once payment is made, it is secretly exchanged for a cheaper or fake device before the seller disappears.
Legitimate traders within the market say the situation has also affected their businesses, as customers often return angry after losing newly bought phones. Some dealers claim scammers pose as buyers, closely monitoring customers who just completed transactions before targeting them.
Market leaders say they are aware of the growing complaints and are working with security agencies and task force teams to identify fake dealers and criminal elements operating within the area.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has reiterated plans to relocate traders to a permanent site at Katangowa in Agbado/Oke-Odo, a move officials say will provide a more organised and secure trading environment. Authorities insist the relocation is essential, noting that the current Ikeja location was never designed to function as a large commercial hub.
As the deadline for relocation approaches, many traders and customers hope the move will help curb the persistent theft and scam activities that have begun to define daily experiences at the iconic market.