A man suspected of theft was allegedly forced to dance after being caught attempting to steal laptops from offices at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in an incident captured on video and widely shared on social media.
On Tuesday, June 24, 2026, at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) headquarters in Abuja, security personnel reportedly apprehended the suspect inside the university premises after he was allegedly found in possession of items linked to office laptop theft. The institution operates as Nigeria’s major open and distance learning university, with administrative offices located in the capital.
According to an eyewitness, Ali Mustapha, who spoke about the incident, NOUN security operatives intercepted the man during what was described as an attempted theft from office buildings within the university complex.
Mustapha said the suspect was taken into custody by campus security officers after he was discovered, although the university has not issued an official public statement confirming the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
A video shared by the eyewitness shows the suspect being made to dance in an open area while surrounded by a group of people, with traditional drums and musical instruments being played during the incident.
In the footage, the man appears to comply with the instructions of those present, dancing while being observed by a crowd within what appears to be the university environment.
The video also shows a moment in which an individual strikes the suspect, causing him to fall to the ground, though the exact circumstances of that action have not been independently verified by authorities.
It is not clear whether the suspect sustained injuries, and there has been no official confirmation from police or medical authorities regarding his condition following the incident.
Campus security personnel were reportedly the first to intervene and detain the suspect before the situation escalated into a public display recorded on video.
The National Open University of Nigeria, which operates a nationwide distance-learning system, has administrative centres that have previously faced concerns relating to theft and security breaches involving office equipment and electronic devices.
As of the time of reporting, NOUN management had not released an official statement clarifying the incident or confirming whether the matter had been handed over to the police for investigation.
The Nigeria Police Force had also not issued any public statement confirming the arrest or detailing any formal charges against the suspect.
The incident has sparked renewed debate over so-called “jungle justice” and the public humiliation of suspected offenders before formal investigation or prosecution.
Human rights advocates in Nigeria have repeatedly cautioned against such practices, stressing that individuals accused of crimes are entitled to due process under the law.
It remains unclear how many laptops were allegedly involved in the attempted theft or whether any of the items were recovered by security operatives during the operation.
The identity of the suspect has not been disclosed by authorities, and investigators have not confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought in connection with the case.
Similar incidents of suspected thieves being made to dance or perform in public after arrest have circulated in Nigeria in recent years, often drawing mixed reactions online, with some viewing them as deterrence and others condemning them as unlawful punishment.
Authorities are expected to review the circumstances surrounding the arrest once an official investigation is opened and determine whether proper procedures were followed by those involved.
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