Fear grips commuters as ‘one-chance’ robbers spread terror in Lagos

Commuters in Lagos, especially on Lagos Island and the mainland, and its environs have been gripped with palpable fear following the activities of men of the underworld, popularly known as ‘one-chance robbers’.

The robbers, who are usually armed with dangerous weapons disguise themselves as commercial vehicle drivers and passengers to perpetrate evil.

The assailants who specialize in snatching valuables from unsuspecting passengers also forcefully throws out their victims from the fast moving vehicle with no regard for their safety.

A journalist who simply identify himself as Eric had a bitter experience with the robbers recently on Lagos Island.

According to Eric, he boarded the commercial bus in Falomo Ikoyi, heading towards Obalande.

“I met two other people in the bus plus the driver and the conductor. A lady was sitting at the back while I took the middle seat. Suddenly the bus took a detour when I complained the conductor said they were trying to avoid traffic.

READ ALSO: National Daily reporter narrates ‘One Chance’ experience in Lagos

“To cut the long story short, the lady at the back took out what looked like a gun and I was asked to surrender my phone and all cash with me. I was driven along the Third Mainland Bridge and pushed out of the bus in the middle of the road,” he said.

Another victim, Chidi, was on November 2 hospitalized in the Hospital after a similar incident along the Ojuelegba axis in Lagos.

She said the robbers stripped her of all her belongings, including a cell phone worth N800,000 and all her savings.

She said, “I was returning from work on November 1when I boarded a taxi from Iyana Oworo to Berger on the express. I never knew it was a ‘one chance’ vehicle.

“It was when the vehicle had moved that I started noticing some suspicious moves by other persons in the vehicle who I earlier thought were fellow passengers.

“At that point, I had no strength in me anymore. I was terrified. I thought I had been kidnapped maybe for ritual because that is what I have been hearing as a trend in the city.

“They asked me to give them my bag, which I obediently did. They searched, took my iPhone worth N800,000, took my ATM card, and inserted it into their POS machine.

Although most of the incidents are underreported, National Daily gathered that the ugly trend cut across the state on daily basis. This is despite efforts by the security operatives stationed along major highways in the state.