Nigerian Businessman Laments After Thieves Dig Tunnel to Rob His Shop

A Nigerian businessman has been left in shock after thieves allegedly dug a tunnel to gain access to his shop and carted away all his valuable gadgets.

In a video shared on TikTok, the distraught man showed the now-empty store, which was previously stocked with phones, accessories, and power banks. The robbers reportedly cleared out everything, leaving behind only the generator, which they were unable to drag through the underground hole.

The clip quickly went viral online, sparking a mix of sympathy and dark humour among viewers.

One user, @Broken MF💔😪, joked:

“At least dem leave generator for am make in use am generate new gadgets.”

Another, @Dramera merlin✨✨🌬🃏, compared the robbers’ tactics to a famous TV character:

“Michael Scofield en Afrique 😂😂.”

While some found humour in the incident, others, like @Tegha Bih Nsen, questioned the jokes, writing:

“What’s funny about this please 🥺.”

Opinion: When Crime Becomes Comedy, Society Must Pause

Nigeria is no stranger to cases of burglary, but what stands out in this incident is not just the audacity of the thieves — digging an underground tunnel like something out of a Hollywood script — but the way many citizens responded with laughter rather than outrage.

Yes, Nigerians have a unique way of using humour to cope with pain. It is part of our resilience. But beneath the jokes lies a sobering reality: a hardworking man has lost his livelihood overnight. Phones, accessories, and gadgets don’t just represent merchandise — they represent investments, years of toil, and the hope of survival in a tough economy.

The viral reactions should push us to reflect: is our laughter masking frustration at a system where security is weak, and crime often goes unpunished? Or are we simply normalising what should alarm us?

At the end of the day, it’s worth remembering that every theft is not just a loss of property, but a blow to someone’s dream. As Nigerians, we can joke to ease the pain, but as a society, we must also demand safer communities, stronger policing, and systems that protect honest business owners.

Because if every “Michael Scofield in Africa” keeps digging, one day, resilience and humour may no longer be enough.