Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
LUGBE, ABUJA — The bustling Lugbe Market along the Airport Road axis of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was thrown into commotion on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, after an unidentified middle-aged man was caught attempting to cart away stolen bundles of electrical cables, according to eyewitness accounts gathered by 247ureports.
The suspect was intercepted by vigilant shop owners as he tried to sneak out of a building materials section of the market with the expensive wiring concealed under his clothing.
Eyewitnesses told 247ureports that the suspect had posed as a legitimate customer browsing the electrical hardware section. Taking advantage of the heavy human traffic and a temporary distraction, he reportedly made away with several rolls of premium copper wiring. However, an alert sales apprentice noticed the sudden drop in inventory and raised an alarm. Market youths and local vigilantes swiftly closed the exit gates, cornering the suspect before he could blend into the outer transportation park.
While a crowd of angry traders gathered, threatening to administer jungle justice, senior executives of the Lugbe Market Traders Association intervened. They restrained the mob, forced the suspect to return the stolen merchandise, and subjected him to a public walk of shame before handing him over to nearby security forces. The suspect was subsequently transferred to the local police divisional headquarters covering the Lugbe jurisdiction for interrogation and formal profiling, according to the report.
Investigative insights from market insiders suggest that the theft of electrical cables, copper wires, and plumbing fixtures has risen sharply across the FCT. Due to inflation and fluctuating exchange rates, the cost of genuine building materials—particularly electrical wiring—has soared. This hyper-inflation has fueled a lucrative black market for stolen construction materials, making retail markets like Lugbe prime targets for petty thieves and organised syndicates who resell the goods to unsuspecting sub-contractors at giveaway prices.
The Lugbe Market Traders Association has issued a stern warning to criminally minded individuals, stating that security measures have been tightened and undercover guards have been deployed across all sectors to curb the rising wave of shoplifting. As of the time of filing this report, the suspect remained in police custody, and investigations into the incident were ongoing. No official statement had been issued by the FCT Police Command regarding the arrest.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing challenge of theft and vandalism of electrical infrastructure in the FCT, where criminal elements have increasingly targeted building materials and electrical installations for resale on the black market.
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