Abuja residents demand urgent action as deadly ‘one-chance’ crime wave escalates

A surge in deadly “one-chance” crimes has sparked widespread fear and anger across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as residents confront rising insecurity and a perceived lack of effective action by authorities.

The criminal syndicates, known for disguising themselves as commercial taxi operators before robbing, abducting, and brutalizing unsuspecting passengers, have intensified their operations, with recent cases resulting in multiple fatalities.

In the past week alone, at least three women have been confirmed dead in suspected one-chance attacks across the city, adding to growing public outrage and calls for drastic government intervention.

Among the victims was Grace Godwin, a petrol station attendant whose lifeless body was discovered on Saturday, July 12 at about 7:21 a.m. in the Jabi area of Abuja. According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, Grace was likely abducted and murdered by one-chance criminals.

She was found unconscious by detectives from the Jabi Police Division and rushed to the National Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

This tragedy followed closely on the heels of another disturbing incident involving Miss Freda Arnong, a staff member of the Ghanaian High Commission in Nigeria.

Freda reportedly boarded a taxi at Transcorp Junction two weeks ago but never made it to her destination. Instead, she was taken towards the Lugbe-Airport Road, where she was beaten and thrown out of the moving vehicle.

She later died at the National Hospital due to injuries sustained during the attack.

As Abuja residents reeled from these back-to-back tragedies, the National Hospital issued a public appeal on July 11 to help identify an unconscious woman brought in from the Kubwa–Deidei Road area on July 8.

Found at around 10:30 p.m., the unidentified woman is currently receiving treatment in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit, as authorities work to locate her family.

READ ALSO: Woman killed by ‘One Chance’ gang in Abuja, sparks outrage, security calls

In another chilling case, Miss Ruth Isaiku, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving at the National Assembly, was recently rescued after falling victim to a one-chance gang.

Ruth had boarded a cab along the Kubwa axis en route to Keffi, Nasarawa State, but was attacked and thrown out near Habiba Plaza, Maitama.

She was found by a concerned citizen from the Army Housing Estate in Kurudu and is currently receiving treatment at Maitama District Hospital.

These repeated incidents have heightened public concern, prompting residents and civil society actors to question the effectiveness of the city’s security architecture.

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had earlier acknowledged the complexity of Abuja’s security situation. During a budget defence session in May for the N1.78 trillion FCT estimates, he emphasized the city’s unique status as host to the Presidency, National Assembly, and foreign embassies—arguing that its security could not be managed like that of other states.

“You cannot talk about autonomy in a city where the President resides, where the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and every corporate head of the country operate from. The security of this city is not something we can handle alone,” Wike had stated.

Yet, for many Abuja residents, the situation remains dire.

READ ALSO: One Chance: We’ll ban unprinted taxis and buses in Abuja — Nyesom Wike

Mike Divine, a schoolteacher, lamented: “These dastardly ‘one-chance’ criminals seem to be targeting women. This unfortunate trend calls for urgent and drastic action. With so many security operatives across the city, how are these attacks still happening?”

Another resident, Ogbonna Joel, recounted the emotional toll after hearing of Freda’s death. “It reminds me of my cousin who was killed by one-chance criminals last year. Her family, like many others, never found closure.”

Emeka Chukwudi voiced frustration at what he described as a normalized crisis: “This is terrible. Are the police even acknowledging these rampant assaults? Women are not safe in Abuja.”

Peter Echo called for legislative intervention. “This is painful. The police and DSS need to collaborate and smash these gangs. The National Assembly must pass a law with life imprisonment for anyone convicted of ‘one-chance’ crimes. One of their aides recently died from this same menace—what more motivation do they need?”

However, when contacted, FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, expressed exasperation over repeated inquiries. “I am tired of answering questions on this ‘one-chance’ incident. We are looking for solutions. If you have any, bring it forth, so we can solve this problem,” she said.

As Abuja residents continue to grapple with the growing threat, experts warn that unless urgent and coordinated efforts are taken by the security agencies, city authorities, and federal lawmakers, the FCT’s reputation as a secure national capital could face serious erosion.