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.