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

A tragic incident has reignited fears over rising insecurity in Abuja, as a young woman from Benue State was found dead and dumped by the roadside in the Jabi area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after reportedly falling victim to a notorious “one chance” robbery gang.

Her lifeless body was discovered on Abubakar Street, off Alex Ekwueme Street in Jabi, sending shockwaves through the local community and across social media platforms where the news quickly circulated.

Though her identity has yet to be officially released by authorities, community members confirmed that she hailed from Ekaida, Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

A local source, Adanu Andrew, who identified the deceased, explained that the young woman was abducted while returning from work.

“The girl is our daughter from Ekaida, Agatu Local Government. She was returning from work and was picked by one chance criminals yesterday,” Andrew told reporters.

According to him, the suspected abductors had contacted the family and demanded a ₦1 million ransom. The family had begun mobilizing funds to secure her release when they were devastated to discover a Facebook post announcing that her body had been found.

“She’s a well-disciplined and cultured young lady who was genuinely hustling to put food on her table. Unfortunately, she fell victim to the wickedness of those who want to make money by all means,” Andrew lamented.
“May God grant her eternal rest and console the family.”

The incident has sparked widespread outrage, highlighting the persistent threat of “one chance” criminal gangs in Abuja. These gangs are known to operate under the guise of commercial transportation, luring passengers into vehicles before robbing, abducting, or even killing them.

Dr. Moses Ijeoma, a security analyst, expressed concern over the frequency and brutality of such attacks in the capital.

“The rise in one chance attacks in Abuja is deeply troubling. These criminals operate with minimal resistance, and that emboldens them. We need more security patrols, better public awareness, and surveillance technology in high-risk zones,” he said.

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

Josephine Eneche, a gender rights advocate, also weighed in, emphasizing the heightened vulnerability of women in urban environments.

“This young woman did everything right—she worked hard, stayed disciplined—but the system failed her. Women should not have to risk their lives simply by commuting. We need a coordinated effort to make cities safe for everyone,” she stated.

At the time of filing this report, the FCT Police Command had not yet released an official statement on the killing, nor confirmed whether an investigation is underway.

The victim’s death is the latest in a string of violent incidents linked to Abuja’s unsafe transport network, and it serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers commuters face daily.

Security experts and civil society organizations are now calling for urgent interventions, including the registration of commercial vehicles, deployment of undercover security agents, installation of CCTV cameras, and the revamping of response mechanisms across the city.

Until concrete steps are taken, residents say, the streets of the capital will remain unsafe—particularly for women and young professionals just trying to make a living.