₦300K Wig Heist Sparks Debate: Woman Forced to Surrender Phone as Collateral After Being Caught on Camera [VIDEO]

 

A woman in Nigeria has landed in hot water after being caught on CCTV stealing wigs—specifically bone straight and pixie styles—worth a staggering ₦300,000. The incident, which was recorded and later posted online, has generated a firestorm of opinions across social media platforms.

Footage from the surveillance camera showed the suspect in the act, a development that left little room for doubt. Rather than being handed over immediately to law enforcement, she was confronted by those present at the scene. In a turn of events that sparked its own debate, the woman was coerced into surrendering her mobile phone as a guarantee to repay the value of the stolen items in full.

This decision to accept her personal item in lieu of immediate legal action ignited sharp responses across the internet, especially after the video went viral on X (formerly Twitter). Online commentators weighed in with a wide array of sentiments—ranging from condemnation of her actions to criticism of the vigilante-style handling of the matter.

Some viewers were quick to draw attention to the broader issue of corruption and inequality in society. “When they see their greedy politicians who stole and are still stealing their destinies, they should make sure to replicate the same treatment!” wrote @FrannyOD, underscoring the perceived hypocrisy in how different classes of theft are treated in the country.

Others, like @FootyAndVibes, focused squarely on the audacity of the act. “Naso you go come online with the wig you stole to oppress others. Thief,” the user remarked, highlighting the trend of social media flaunting that often masks personal misconduct.

Questions around justice and due process were central to the discourse. @Zedoxniyi raised a legal quandary: “You stole an item, seller is agreeing to the thief dropping a personal item to installmentally offset the bill of the stolen item. Must she pay for stolen item since there is a caught?” This line of reasoning was echoed by others who felt that returning the stolen goods or turning the suspect over to authorities would have been a more lawful approach.

A particularly notable comment came from @Lartiano, who emphasized the imbalance in the situation. “Not Supporting Stealing, But Why Forcing Her To Pay By Holding On To Her Phone? Collect Whatever She Stole And Hand Her Over To The Appropriate Authority. She Had Been Disgraced Already—Why Forcing Her To Pay?”

The interrogation-style confrontation captured in the video also didn’t sit well with all viewers. One user, @lazfranklin71, took issue with the aggressive tone of one of the women confronting the thief: “Make the other girl wey dey rush her with questions calm down na, shuuuu. Like say she interrogating the thief is holy. If she talk too much tomorrow her own noodles go leak online and we go watch am.”

Meanwhile, others found justification in the public embarrassment, drawing on their own experiences as victims of theft. “I’ll never feel pity for any embarrassment faced by a petty thief, so far that no jungle justice is involved. If you’ve been a victim either on personal belongings or from your business, you’ll understand. I’ve been a victim of both,” tweeted @Montofigo1.

A balanced voice came from @Opsylo_jay, who pointed out the ethical misstep in forcing payment under pressure. “That’s the only place those people messed up. They shouldn’t have forced her to pay. It’s even better if she gets arrested and let the law take its course. Reminds me of the story of Tortoise and Snail where Tortoise was the culprit but Snail later was tagged the villain.”

As the video continues to circulate, the incident has raised pressing questions about how communities deal with petty crime, the line between justice and humiliation, and whether social media is the right platform for such public reckonings. Though the woman was not subjected to physical violence, the moral and psychological implications of the event are clearly far-reaching.

With many voices chiming in from different moral and legal standpoints, the debate appears far from over.

So she agrees to drop her phone until she pays for the items she allegedly stole. Fair or nah ? 🧎🏻‍♂️‍➡️💔 https://t.co/ee9abkGiWV pic.twitter.com/cDG68DmUo7

— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) May 28, 2025