Abuja Residents Raise Alarm Over Incessant “One Chance” Incidences

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja are worried that the little gains in the area of security achieved, so far, by the President Bola Tinubu administration through the Minister, Nyesom Wike may be lost to the rising cases of kidnap and robbery in transit popularly known as “One Chance”.

Some of them who spoke to Kristina Reports in different parts of Abuja complained about the consistent “one chance” incidences that have been taking place within the city of late.

Also referred to as public transportation kidnap and robbery, “one chance” is a situation where unsuspecting passengers enter a vehicle, like a taxi or bus, operated by criminals who rob or harm the passengers.

A victim of “one chance”, who spoke to Kristina Reports on the condition of anonymity, said that she has been a victim twice and both times it happened close to AYA roundabout on her way to work.

“Both times I was on my way to work, in the morning at about 8:40. I entered this cab that had two women and three men inside, apart from the driver.

“I sat in front with one of the women and the next thing they were accusing one of the men of having a bag of stolen money in the car and asking him to share it among the occupants of the car.”

“I was quiet and did not say anything but they kept asking me what I thought about their suggestion to share the money, I remained silent.”

“When I was close to my stop, the guy behind me put a knife to my neck and asked me to hand over my belongings to the woman beside me. I did and they pushed me out of the car and zoomed off.”

Smart Ademola stated that since he moved to Abuja in 2017, he has been a victim of “one chance” four times and these incidents motivated him to buy a car.

“I have been in Abuja since 2017 and on three occasions I have entered one chance. The last time it happened was in 2022. I was shaken and stranded because they took everything from me and that was why I had to save up and get a car.”

“I picked a cab from H-Medix Garki to Bannex around 7pm that day. I was the third person to enter. Somewhere close to Blake, another guy entered and he was one of them but I did not know.”

“When we got to Glo junction the guy beside me asked me to give him my bag. I was confused, and before I knew what was happening, he cut the rope of my bag and pushed me out of the car. Another one happened close to Lugbe carwash.”

Ahmed, a cab driver, attributed other drivers’ participation in the scheme to desperation and refusal to make money honestly.

“I have been doing this driver work for more than ten years and I can tell you that I have never been a part of it. It is true that it is even worse now and I will say that it is drivers that want to make quick money that are doing that kind of thing.”

Stella Abidemi said she and her sister were attacked and stabbed last year at Mpape, she survived but her sister who was stabbed multiple times in the stomach died on the spot.

“Last year August I watched my sister die. We were on our way back from church around 7 when we entered this car that had only men inside. Five minutes into the journey they were asking for our bags.”

“My sister struggled with them and they stabbed her plenty of times cut me on my arm and then pushed us out of the moving vehicle. I can never forget it.”

Last month, a girl was found dead on the road at Mpape and it was speculated that she was a victim of one chance.

Each interviewee pleaded with the government to look into the case of insecurity as it is becoming constantly difficult to use public transportation because of the increase in “one chance”.