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“Condemn phone! Condemn computer! Handset to baje baje! We are buying it in a good price!”
That line is now common on Nigerian streets. Traders move around with megaphones, telling people to bring out condemned phones and laptops. The idea is for you bring anything faulty and collect cash immediately.
What is not mentioned is the risk attached to what Nigerians still have inside those devices.
Your Password, not hardware, is the real Price
A faulty phone is often seen as useless, especially when it falls inside water. But in reality, the storage is usually still intact even if the screen or battery is bad. This means personal data can still be accessed. The least thing like sensitive pictures could still be retrieved.
Many of these devices still have access to banking apps, email accounts and social media. In some cases, the accounts are still logged in, so no password is needed. Where passwords are saved, they can be retrieved. If the SIM is still linked, it can also be used for OTP and verification.
So, what looks like a simple condemned phone or laptop sale is actually a transfer of access to someone you don’t know.
What sellers don’t know is costing them
There is a gap between what sellers think they are giving away and what buyers may actually be interested in.
From reactions seen on Facebook, most of these devices are bought between ₦500 and ₦10,000. The buyer promises a “good price”, checks the device, and then gives a final amount with little room for argument.
To the seller, the phone is useless. To the buyer, there may still be value inside it — especially saved passwords and access.
What happens after you sell your device
Once a device is sold without properly deleting your information, anything inside it can still be accessed and used by the seller, the repairer, or the next buyer.
This can lead to unauthorised bank transactions. Personal details stored on the device can be used to apply for loans. Email access can be used to reset passwords across different platforms. Social media accounts can also be taken over and used for scams.
Even if the phone does not come on, the storage can be removed and accessed with other tools. The device does not need to be working for the data to be read.
Street trade with no protection
This business operates without structure.
There is no shop, no receipt, and no way to trace who bought the device. Payments are done in cash, and there is no discussion about what happens to the data. Once you hand over the device, that is the end of the transaction.
This means devices with sensitive information are entering a system with no control.
What Nigerians must do before selling
The risk can be reduced if proper steps are taken before selling any device.
- Remove SIM cards and memory cards.
- Sign out of all accounts on the device.
- Clear saved passwords and browser data.
- Carry out a full factory reset if the phone still works.
- If the device does not power on, the storage should be removed or destroyed. For laptops, this means removing the hard drive or SSD.
These steps are necessary. Without them, access goes with the device.
So, “We Buy at Good Price” is not about your phone
The phrase “we are buying it in a good price” sounds harmless, but it is not just about the phone.
Your password, pictures, bank details, etc. are being handed over. So, access to bank accounts, personal identity and private information could be the reason Nigerians report unauthorized bank transactions and loan applications in their accounts.
The problem may not show immediately, but it can appear later through unauthorised transactions or account access.
This is not just about selling old condemned devices. It is about understanding what is inside them and what is being given away.
