Fear has continued to grip residents of the Federal Capital Territory as criminals allegedly masquerading as commercial transport operators turn taxis into traps for unsuspecting commuters.

The growing “one-chance” menace involves criminal gangs using vehicles that appear to be legitimate taxis to pick up passengers before allegedly diverting them to isolated locations, where they are robbed, assaulted or abducted.

In some cases, victims have reportedly been killed after being forced to surrender their valuables and money.

SEE ALSO: NNPC Ltd Considers Commissioning, as AKK Gas Pipeline Lands Abuja

The situation has heightened concerns over passenger safety, particularly during rush hours and at night when commuters often struggle to find affordable transportation.

Fake taxis, real terror

The criminals reportedly operate by blending into busy passenger-loading points, making it difficult for commuters to distinguish them from genuine commercial drivers.

Once the vehicle becomes sufficiently occupied, the occupants allegedly reveal their identities, threaten passengers and demand their valuables.

Some survivors have recounted being forced to transfer money from their bank accounts, surrender ATM cards and disclose their PINs.
One survivor, Umar, said he boarded a vehicle in 2025 believing it was a normal commercial taxi.

He became suspicious after noticing the behaviour of the driver and other occupants and requested to alight.

According to him, the occupants became aggressive, attacked him and eventually pulled out a gun.

Umar said the gang forced him to transfer N500,000 from his account before taking his ATM card and withdrawing additional money through a POS device.

He said the criminals later pushed him out of the moving vehicle.

“People should be extremely careful, even in places that look like regular loading points. Just because many people gather there does not mean it is safe,” he warned.

Women among victims

Women have also been among those targeted by the criminal gangs.

In February 2026, a woman identified as Precious reportedly boarded a green taxi in Gwarimpa after negotiating a fare.

She became suspicious when the occupants began winding up the vehicle’s windows. When she resisted, one of the men reportedly slapped her.

The driver allegedly told her, “You think say we be normal human beings?”

The gang subsequently demanded her phone and bag and attempted to gain access to her financial accounts.

Another woman, Iniobong Festus, said she narrowly escaped after boarding a vehicle at Dawaki Underbridge while travelling to church in Asokoro.

She said the occupants blindfolded her and demanded her belongings. After discovering that she had neither money nor a mobile phone, they reportedly abandoned her around Mpape.

Some victims never returned

While some commuters have survived their ordeals, others have reportedly lost their lives.

One of the cases that generated outrage was the killing of Chinemerem Chukwumeziem, a nurse with the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi.

Chukwumeziem was reportedly lured into a “one-chance” vehicle on January 3, 2026, after closing from work.

Her body was recovered by the roadside the following day.

Another victim, Princess Mediatrix Chigbo, was also reportedly abducted while in transit and later found dead around the Dawaki axis of the Kubwa Expressway.

The killings triggered condemnation from professional organisations, including the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives and the Nigerian Bar Association.
The former NBA president, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the incidents had plunged Abuja into grief and fear.

“These were not faceless victims. They were professionals, contributors to society, and ordinary citizens whose only intention was to return safely from their daily engagements,” the NBA said.

The association condemned the growing pattern of criminals masquerading as commercial transport operators.

Freda’s death raises fresh concerns

The case of Freda Arnong also remains one of the incidents associated with Abuja’s one-chance menace.

Arnong was reportedly killed on July 2, 2025, after leaving a house fellowship near the CBN Institute in Maitama and boarding a commuter vehicle while returning home.

Her death further heightened concerns about the safety of passengers using roadside taxis in the nation’s capital.

The menace has also been reported in satellite towns including Zuba and along the Gwagwalada-Lokoja highway.

Transport gap worsens situation

Beyond criminal activity, concerns have been raised about Abuja’s transportation system, with residents arguing that inadequate and unreliable public transportation leaves commuters vulnerable to unregulated operators.

For years, residents of the FCT have complained about the absence of a sufficiently reliable, affordable and comprehensive public transportation network connecting the city centre with satellite towns.

The shortage becomes more pronounced during peak periods, when commuters compete for the limited number of available vehicles.

This has created an environment where desperate passengers may board vehicles without adequately verifying the identity of the driver or the legitimacy of the taxi.

Wike’s transportation overhaul

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has been pursuing reforms aimed at restructuring transportation within the capital.

The initiative includes enforcing the Abuja Master Plan and developing regulated transport terminals in the city and satellite towns.

Structured bus hubs are being developed in locations including Bwari and Gwagwalada, with the broader objective of improving commuter safety and reducing the activities of criminal operators.

Police vow to dismantle gangs

Following public concerns over the growing menace, FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, declared a zero-tolerance stance against crime in the territory.

Sanusi vowed to dismantle one-chance criminal syndicates operating across Abuja.

“FCT will no longer serve as a refuge for criminal elements including one-chance robbers. Decisive measures will be taken to restore safety and public confidence,” he said.

He also warned that indiscipline and unprofessional conduct within the police command would not be tolerated.

For many Abuja residents, however, the concern remains immediate: getting into a taxi should mean getting home safely—not entering a potential death trap.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an upward review of the national minimum wage, declaring that the current ₦70,000 salary can no longer meet the needs of Nigerian workers due to rising inflation and the increasing cost of living.

The demand was made on Friday at the Nigeria Rights of Workers Summit 2026 in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, where labour leaders, government officials, employers, civil society organisations and workers gathered to commemorate 88 years of legally recognised trade unionism in Nigeria.

SEE MORE: ‘Enough Is Enough!’ — NLC, TUC Threaten Nationwide Strike Over Insecurity

Speaking on behalf of NLC President Joe Ajaero, the Deputy President of the Congress, Adewale Adeyanju (Amba), said the purchasing power of the current minimum wage has been severely eroded by prevailing economic realities.

“The current ₦70,000 minimum wage can no longer adequately respond to the realities confronting Nigerian workers, particularly with the rising cost of living,” Adeyanju said.

He noted that the existing wage arrangement has expired, making fresh negotiations with the Federal Government and state governments necessary.

According to him, labour expects a new wage structure that reflects current economic conditions and enables workers to meet their basic needs.

The summit, themed “The Rights of Workers: Decent Work and a Just Economy in Nigeria,” focused on workers’ remuneration, workplace safety, job security, discrimination, and the protection of casual and other non-traditional workers across the country.

Convener of the summit and Executive Director of Call a Lawyer, Ekpa Stanley, said the gathering was aimed at assessing the progress made in advancing workers’ rights while identifying areas requiring urgent attention.

“This summit is not only about celebrating 88 years of trade unionism; it is also an opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved, the challenges that remain, and what must be done to guarantee decent work for Nigerian workers,” he said.

Former NLC President Ayuba Wabba stressed that improving workers’ welfare should go beyond increasing salaries.

“Decent work is not only about wages. It is also about workers’ rights, social protection and meaningful social dialogue between workers, employers and government,” Wabba stated.

He urged policymakers to implement measures that guarantee workers’ dignity, strengthen social protection and improve job security amid the nation’s economic challenges.

Meanwhile, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris assured workers that his administration would implement any new national minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.

“Whatever is agreed upon at the national level on the minimum wage, Kebbi State will implement it,” the governor said.

He also pledged to advocate improved remuneration for workers during deliberations at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

Participants at the summit further called for stricter enforcement of labour laws, improved workplace safety, stronger protection against discrimination and greater support for workers in the informal sector.

The event concluded with goodwill messages from labour leaders, affiliate unions and representatives of the National Industrial Court, while awards were presented to individuals, including Governor Idris, in recognition of their contributions to workers’ welfare.

Anambra State First Lady, Dr. Nonye Soludo, has emerged as the winner of the Health Activism category at the 2026 BudgIT Active Citizens Awards, beating other leading health advocates to clinch the prestigious national recognition.

The award, now in its third edition, celebrates individuals and organisations making exceptional contributions to civic engagement, social development, accountability and sustainable development across Nigeria.

ALSO READ: Two Officers Killed as Hoodlums Ambush Soludo Aide’s Convoy in Anambra

Dr. Soludo earned the honour for her outstanding work in promoting preventive healthcare, community wellness and public health advocacy through her Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to improving the health of communities across Anambra State.

She was selected ahead of renowned Nigerian health and gender rights advocate Ramatu Ada Ochekliye and public health and social impact professional Sidney Sampson following a rigorous evaluation process.

Nominees were assessed on innovation, impact, sustainability, inclusion, leadership and measurable community outcomes.

Receiving the award, the First Lady described the recognition as both humbling and a renewed call to deepen her commitment to public service.

“Like a family driven by one common goal, we have shown that when communities take ownership of their health, lasting transformation becomes very possible,” she said.

She dedicated the award to members of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, healthcare workers, volunteers, community leaders, development partners and residents of Anambra State for embracing the vision of healthier living.

Dr. Soludo also expressed gratitude to BudgIT, Civic Hive and the Ford Foundation for the recognition, noting that it would inspire the initiative to expand its programmes and continue promoting healthier communities across the state.

In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor’s Wife, Daniel Ezeigwe, said the award reflects growing national recognition of the impact of Dr. Soludo’s healthy living campaign, describing it as a model for advancing preventive healthcare and healthy lifestyles.

According to Ezeigwe, the First Lady has championed several people-centred initiatives since assuming office.

These include statewide fitness campaigns, maternal and child health advocacy, nutrition education, environmental sanitation, the Healthy Living Pad Bank for schoolgirls, free seed distribution to households and the Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap Initiative, which is aimed at tackling childhood malnutrition.

“These programmes have touched thousands of lives while reinforcing the importance of prevention as the foundation of a healthier society,” Ezeigwe said.

He added that the latest recognition underscores Dr. Soludo’s unwavering commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Anambra residents while contributing to Nigeria’s broader public health development.