The entrance gate of the Federal High Court in Abuja, a point designed for screening and security, became the scene of a shocking betrayal on Monday when an unidentified operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly stole the mobile phone of a young freelance reporter and nail technician, Emmanuel Uche.
Uche, a struggling creative who combines nail tech work with freelance journalism, told this newspaper that the incident happened in broad daylight at the court’s main gate. The officer, whose name has not been disclosed, simply took the phone and disappeared into the courthouse premises.
“I was at the gate. A DSS officer just took my phone. I am a journalist and a nail technician trying to survive. Who do I run to when the ones guarding the gate are the thieves?” an agitated Uche narrated.
For a freelance reporter, a smartphone is not a luxury—it is a recording device, a notebook, a camera, and a publishing tool. For a nail technician, it is a booking system, a portfolio, and a link to clients. To lose both tools at once is to lose a means of livelihood.
What makes this incident particularly disturbing is the location. The Federal High Court is a symbol of justice and order. Its gate is manned by security agents expected to protect citizens, not prey on them. Yet, according to Uche, none of the other security personnel present intervened, and no arrest was made.
As of press time, the DSS has not issued any official statement, nor has the officer been identified or detained. Calls by this newspaper to the DSS public relations unit went unanswered.
Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media have reacted with fury. Many are demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the rogue operative, arguing that if citizens cannot trust DSS officers at the gate of a federal court, then the state has truly failed.
The message from the public is unmistakable: When the gatekeeper becomes a pickpocket, no citizen is safe.