A suspected phone thief on Monday stabbed a man that pursued him to recover the stolen item to death in Niger state.

The incident occurred in Kantoma near Dawaki area of Suleja Local Government Area of the state.

Eyewitness said that the victim, Usman Garba Babangida, had ran after the suspected thief, who was trying to escape, before he (the suspected phone thief) pulled a knife and stabbed him.

After onlookers noticed that Mr Babangida had been stabbed, they surrounded the suspect and began to beat him until he was lifeless.

The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Mr Bala Elkana, confirmed the incident to Channels Television.

He said that the police had made efforts to save them, explaining that the suspected phone thief and Mr Babangida had been rescued before they later died in the hospital.

Mr Elkana stated that the handset was recovered from the victim and that the situation had been brought under control.

“Calm has returned to the town and people are going about their businesses,” he added.