NEWS
Abuja One-Chance Scare: How Criminals Turn Taxis Into Death Traps
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.
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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.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described his emergence as Nigeria’s President as a special favour from Almighty Allah, saying his position as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is a privilege that must be matched with dedicated service to the country.
Tinubu made the remarks while reflecting on his spiritual journey to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj (Umrah), during which he was granted access to pray inside the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah.
The President expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for granting him and members of his Nigerian delegation the rare privilege.
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Speaking after the spiritual exercise, Tinubu said his emergence as Nigeria’s leader was an extraordinary blessing, considering the millions of people in the country.
“I have faith in that, and I believe extremely well that He has done me and my country a great favour. Out of many millions of people, to be the President and Commander-in-Chief is a favour that only Almighty God can do to a human being,” he said.
The President also disclosed that he used the opportunity to pray for wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians, expressing confidence that his prayers had been answered.
“Well, I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted,” Tinubu said.
Recalling his previous Umrah pilgrimage before the 2023 presidential election, he said he had asked Allah to bless the journey and promised to return to express gratitude.
Tinubu also reflected on the message in Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26 of the Holy Qur’an, which establishes Allah as the ultimate owner of sovereignty and authority, with the power to give and take leadership.
He said the message reinforces the need for those entrusted with positions of authority to exercise power responsibly, with humility and in the interest of the people.
“There is no other God but Almighty Allah. He is the giver and the taker. He owns power and authority,” the President said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to building a prosperous Nigeria, investing in the future of young Nigerians and pursuing development in line with the aspirations of the people.
Tinubu described the opportunity to enter the Holy Ka’abah as a historic and deeply cherished spiritual experience, adding that it reflected the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
The Ogun State Police Command has received three major honours at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council’s Golden Jubilee Press Week, with Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni named a Golden Jubilee Ambassador.
The Command received the Shield of Public Safety Award, while its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, was presented with the Vanguard of Public Safety Award.
The recognition formed part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the NUJ in Ogun State, which coincides with the state’s 50th anniversary.
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According to a statement released on Monday, November 2, 2026, by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Babaseyi, the awards recognised the Command’s commitment to public safety, proactive policing and effective engagement with the media.
The Golden Jubilee Press Week, held from October 26 to November 1, 2026, was themed, “Truth, Trust and the Press: Protecting Democratic Choice and Rebuilding Public Confidence in Journalism.”
Ojajuni also participated in a panel session during the celebration, where he urged journalists to uphold truth, professional ethics and patriotism, stressing the importance of responsible journalism to national development and public confidence in public institutions.
While receiving the Shield of Public Safety Award, the police commissioner attributed the Command’s achievements, particularly the impact of Operation KOSAYE, to the strategic direction of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, under the Handshake Patrol initiative.
He explained that the operation was carried out on the directive of the IGP through collaboration between the Ogun and Lagos State Police Commands, with support from the governors of both states.
According to him, the initiative strengthened security cooperation between the two states and improved coordinated efforts to prevent and combat criminal activities.
Ojajuni was also named among 50 distinguished personalities recognised as Golden Jubilee Ambassadors.
The honour reflects his leadership and previous contributions to policing in Ogun State, where he served as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department and Squadron Commander of the 16 Police Mobile Force, Abeokuta, before becoming commissioner.
Similarly, Babaseyi received the Vanguard of Public Safety Award in recognition of his contributions to police-public communication, media engagement and public safety advocacy.
The commissioner dedicated the honours to the Inspector-General of Police and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, acknowledging their commitment and sacrifices in protecting lives and property.
The Command also commended the NUJ Ogun State Council, led by its chairman, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, for the recognition and its role in promoting constructive engagement between journalists and security institutions.
It reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its relationship with the media, noting that effective policing depends not only on operational deployment but also on public trust, timely information and stakeholder engagement.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has called on traditional rulers to strengthen their collaboration with the government and security agencies to tackle insecurity and protect farmers, traders and other residents across the state.
Radda made the appeal during a meeting with the District Head of Bakori, Alhaji Garba Tukur Idris, Makaman Katsina, and other traditional leaders in Bakori Local Government Area.
The engagement, which formed part of activities of the Tinubu–Dikko 2027 Campaign Council, was disclosed in a statement issued on November 1, 2026, by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed.
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The governor said traditional institutions remained essential to efforts to achieve lasting security and development, particularly because of their influence and close relationship with local communities.
“Government cannot achieve sustainable security and grassroots development without the active cooperation of traditional rulers, community elders and other local stakeholders,” Radda said.
He urged traditional leaders to work more closely with security agencies and other community stakeholders to address security threats and strengthen peace across their respective communities.
“Your role in maintaining peace and order in our communities is very important. We need your cooperation to address security challenges and advance development at the grassroots,” he added.
Radda also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, strengthening security operations and ensuring farmers could access their farmlands while traders conducted their businesses without fear.
He called for a coordinated approach involving traditional rulers, security agencies, political leaders, youths and women, stressing the importance of collective action in tackling insecurity and creating economic opportunities.
In his response, the District Head of Bakori, Garba Tukur Idris, welcomed the governor and his delegation, commending the engagement and the relationship between the government and traditional institutions.
Idris identified agriculture, trading and commerce as the major economic activities in Bakori, while highlighting the area’s skilled and unskilled labour force, dams and boreholes as resources that could support increased agricultural productivity and attract investment.
He also commended the cooperation among traditional institutions, local government authorities, security agencies and residents in maintaining peace, urging stakeholders to sustain the collaboration to protect their communities.
The Chairman of Bakori Local Government Area, Musa Abubakar Barde, said the delegation was also in the area to seek the blessings and support of traditional rulers and community stakeholders for the Tinubu–Dikko 2027 campaign.
The delegation included Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal; Campaign Director-General, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa; Campaign Council Co-Chairman, Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa; Deputy Director-General, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; and Secretary-General, Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji, among others.
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