When folks get robbed in Nigeria, calling the police typically seems like a joke. We have all heard tales of misery calls that by no means get answered, patrol vans that present up when the hazard is over, and victims left to depend their losses alone.
“Could Nigeria by no means occur to us” is one thing many people say evenly, till it turns into painfully actual.
That was the prayer of Come up Information anchor Sommie Maduagwu, simply weeks earlier than her tragic loss of life. She had tweeted phrases which have now turn into a chilling prophecy for her and a determined prayer for the remainder of us: “I pray from the depth of my coronary heart that Nigeria by no means occurs to me or my family members.”
Can all of us agree that this challenge of arm theft brought about the loss of life of Sommie is simply an orchestrated transfer/story to cowl up one thing !!!
Sommie, you prayed could Nigeria by no means occur to you or anybody you cared about, however right here we’re !! #RIPSOMMIE @ARISEtv examine her loss of life 🙏 pic.twitter.com/38Y497fuCT— Ohamadike (@Ohamadikae) September 30, 2025
Sadly, Nigeria did occur to her, and she or he misplaced her life after a theft assault in Abuja.
Her story has shaken many Nigerians as a result of it displays a concern all of us dwell with that, at any second, violence might discover its option to our doorsteps. And, in a rustic the place safety is shaky, we should do all the pieces we will to guard ourselves.
So, if, God forbid, robbers break into your property tonight, listed below are steps that would make it easier to keep alive:
Part 1: Earlier than the theft
1. Safe your property earlier than dusk
Insecurity isn’t nearly reacting; it’s additionally about prevention. Prevention, they are saying, is healthier than remedy.
Everyone knows most robberies in Nigerian neighbourhoods occur at night time, between midnight and 4 a.m. So, make sure you safe your property earlier than then.
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Lock all doorways and home windows, even when you’re simply inside.
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Preserve outside safety lights on; robbers choose darkness.
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If doable, use burglary-proof home windows and strong doorways with a number of locks.
Neighborhood security additionally helps. In areas the place residents pool funds for night time guards or vigilante teams, the crime charge is usually decrease. Ready for presidency safety alone is, sadly, unreliable.
2. Have an escape and security plan
When you dwell in a robbery-prone space, think about planning protected exits. Some households preserve a second set of keys hidden, or a ladder to scale fences in case of fireside or assault. Others designate a protected nook in the home the place youngsters can cover silently.
Part 2: Throughout the theft
3. Don’t attempt to be a hero
Safety specialists warn that essentially the most harmful mistake throughout a theft is resistance. These males are sometimes armed, excessive on medication, and intensely unpredictable. Your intuition may be to struggle again, particularly when you’re defending family members.
Let the TV, the laptop computer, and the cash within the drawer go. These items might be changed; your life can not.
Even law enforcement officials admit they’re skilled to protect life first, not property. In the event that they advise towards “enjoying hero” whereas armed, unusual civilians ought to heed that knowledge too. Your objective in that second is survival, not bravery.
4. Keep calm and don’t scream
Panic is pure, however seen concern could make robbers nervous, and nervous criminals can get violent. Preserve your voice low and your actions gradual. Keep away from shouting, sudden gestures, or something that might be mistaken for defiance.
Many survivors of theft assaults say one thing so simple as responding with “Sure, sir” or “Take no matter you need” helped de-escalate the state of affairs.
In the event that they ask for cash, direct them to the place it’s. In the event that they need to tie you up, allow them to. Being tied up is healthier than being shot. Your cooperation is your main protect on this second.
Bonus level: Disguise valuables in plain sight
Robbers often come on the lookout for money, telephones, and jewelry. One sensible technique is preserving a “sacrifice stash,” that’s, a small sum of money and a telephone you not use. Place them someplace simple to search out, so you may hand them over rapidly.
Why? In the event that they search too lengthy and suppose you’re hiding one thing, frustration might flip to aggression. It’s higher to lose ₦50,000 or an previous telephone than provoke additional violence.
Part 3: After the theft
5. After the robbers go away, search assist quick
What you do after the theft is simply as necessary. If somebody is injured, don’t waste time ready for the police. Go to the hospital quick. Insist on quick remedy, and if doable, go straight to a personal facility the place you may get attended to quicker.
If valuables have been stolen, report back to the police as quickly because it’s protected. They could not at all times recuperate your gadgets, however an official report might be necessary for insurance coverage or future safety interventions in your space.
It’s okay to grieve and be indignant
The violation you’re feeling is actual. The trauma is actual. What occurred to Sommie is a heartbreaking reminder of our collective vulnerability in a rustic like ours. So, it’s okay to be indignant at a system that fails to guard its residents. No one ought to must dwell their life locked in, ready, praying hazard doesn’t come knocking.
However that is our Nigeria, and the system is unprepared to guard us.
So, whereas we preserve hoping and demanding a greater nation, we additionally want to organize ourselves in small, sensible methods. We should be sensible and look out for one another, as a result of, as harsh because it sounds, the cavalry we have been promised may by no means come.
Could Nigeria by no means occur to us.
