A determined Nigerian man has shocked many by returning to Computer Village in Lagos to continue his phone theft operations, despite previously being caught and publicly humiliated for the same crime. In a desperate bid to avoid detection, the man altered his appearance significantly, including changing his hairstyle to dreadlocks. However, his efforts to conceal his identity ultimately failed, as he was apprehended once again during another theft attempt.
This dramatic incident was revealed in a viral post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) by user @Hybrid_Ola, who included videos showing both the recent arrest and a throwback clip from an earlier incident. In the new video, the suspect can be seen sporting dreadlocks and looking noticeably different from his previous appearance in an attempt to deceive traders and onlookers at the busy technology market.
The throwback footage from April vividly shows the same man being caught red-handed stealing phones at Computer Village. During that incident, he was thoroughly disciplined by angry phone engineers and shop owners who expressed frustration over the repeated thefts that have plagued the market for years.
Despite the public embarrassment and severe beating he endured the first time, the man’s return to the scene of his previous crime has left many social media users stunned and deeply concerned. Many people are questioning his audacity and apparent addiction to stealing, while others criticized his poor strategy and inability to turn away from crime.
As the latest video circulated widely online, numerous netizens flooded the comment section to share their thoughts and reactions, ranging from disbelief to outright condemnation of his actions.
See some reactions below:
@Ab_PrimeDeals: “Na him normal hustle be this. He is getting bad at it. He should quit already before they burn him with tyre.”
@XhegzyB: “This boy no fit change (since the days of gokada) he stays in Alagbado ijaye-kola😂😂😂, i saw him in a friend’s Estate last week, His name is Ugo, fine guy with good physique (he plays football but his hobby is stealing).”
@badtGirlRiri: “He changed hairstyle make them no recognize am.”
@DenikeOlori: “This one no fit change ooo. Ah ahhhhh. After the first beating?”
@harbey_tiger: “Weyrey go do surgery think say dem no go sabi am still go back to him vomit.”
@SandieeSays: “What is that mop on his head.”
The Computer Village, known as Nigeria’s largest technology market, has long been a hotspot for phone theft and other petty crimes despite efforts by security agencies and market associations to curb such incidents. The market’s traders and security guards continue to face challenges in identifying and dealing with repeat offenders who often find new tactics to evade capture.
The man’s brazen attempt to return after already facing public disgrace highlights the persistent problem of recidivism among petty thieves and has sparked conversations about the need for more robust security measures, rehabilitation efforts, and public awareness campaigns.
WATCH VIDEO:
After getting caught and beaten for stealing phones at computer village , the thief went to revamp 😭 https://t.co/U8owAfwiZW pic.twitter.com/vSczHlaj1c
— Vampz (@Hybrid_Ola) July 7, 2025