One-Chance Gangs Terrorize Abuja: Residents Demand Action as Killings Continue
The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is grappling with an alarming surge in violent crimes perpetrated by suspected 'one-chance' gangs. These criminal syndicates, posing as commercial drivers, lure unsuspecting passengers into their vehicles before robbing, abducting, and sometimes murdering them. The recovery of bodies along major roads has left residents unsettled and questioning the security architecture at the seat of Nigeria's federal government.
Tragic Cases Highlight the Crisis
On January 3, 2026, Nurse Chinemerem Chukwumeziem completed her afternoon shift at the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi and boarded public transport home. Unknown to her, she had entered a vehicle of death. Men of the underworld snuffed life out of the dedicated healthcare worker, abandoning her lifeless body on the roadside. The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, FCT Council, condemned the killing as an assault on healthcare workers and humanity.
Barely a day later, another victim was discovered. Princess Mediatrix Chigbo, a prominent legal practitioner and rights advocate, was found dead along the Kubwa Expressway near Dawaki opposite Gwarimpa Estate. Preliminary reports suggest she too fell victim to one-chance operators, with her handbag found some distance from her body indicating a violent encounter possibly involving being pushed from a moving vehicle. The International Federation of Women Lawyers, Abuja Branch, expressed shock and outrage over her brutal murder.
A Pattern of Violence Spanning Years
These recent cases are not isolated incidents. The one-chance phenomenon has plagued Abuja for years, with criminals operating freely across the capital. In 2023, Greatness Olorunfemi was pushed from a moving vehicle along Kubwa road and allegedly died after being denied treatment by Maitama General Hospital. On July 2, 2025, Freda Arnong was killed by a one-chance criminal group after leaving a house fellowship near the CBN Institute in Maitama.
A 2020 report by SB Morgan ranked Abuja 11th among locations with frequent one-chance robbery and abduction cases, signaling the evolving nature of crime in the capital. Incidents have been reported across multiple areas including Banex Junction, CBN Junction, Airport Road, Central Area, Garki, Nicon Luxury Junction, Kubwa Expressway, Mabushi, and satellite towns like Zuba and along the Gwagwalada-Lokoja highway.
Survivor Accounts Reveal Terrifying Ordeals
Umar Musa recounted his harrowing experience with one-chance criminals on November 14, 2025. What appeared to be a normal loading point turned into a nightmare when the men in the vehicle became infuriated by his request to alight. "I was slapped and beaten," he recalled. "The one with me pulled out a gun and pointed it at my head."
The attackers tied him up and forced him to transfer N500,000 from his account. They searched his pockets, found his ATM card, forced him to reveal his PIN, and immediately withdrew the money using a POS machine in their possession. After threatening to kill him, they eventually pushed him from the moving vehicle.
Musa warned commuters to be extra vigilant: "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 added that three days after his experience, his brother was also robbed by men wearing military camouflage who pretended to be security personnel.
Security Response and Expert Analysis
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command stated it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the recent deaths. FCT Police Public Relations Officer Josephine Adeh said: "We are on top of the situation and are still investigating what actually happened." She clarified that it was too early to conclude the victims were killed by one-chance operators and argued that insecurity in the FCT has significantly reduced compared to previous years.
However, security expert Patrick Agbambu warned that rising one-chance criminal activities expose serious gaps in Abuja's internal security architecture. "Abuja is supposed to be one of the safest, if not the safest city in Nigeria. However, for a very long time, the issue of one chance has persisted," he said.
Agbambu called for improved intelligence-led policing and stronger on-ground presence: "The police need to intensify their presence through covert operations, and plain-clothes officers should be assigned to identified routes where these crimes frequently occur. These areas should be properly mapped and patterns closely monitored." He warned that security challenges could escalate as political activities intensify ahead of elections.
Calls for Urgent Action
Emmanuel Onwubiko, national coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association, declared that the daring operations by one-chance armed robbers highlight a clear absence of preventive security strategy in the nation's capital. "The federal government does not need to wait for those killings to continue unabated before a major decision is made to secure the life and property of Nigerians in the FCT," he stated.
Previously considered one of Nigeria's safest cities, Abuja's status as the seat of power has only heightened public anxiety. Many residents now exercise extreme caution, especially at night, and some have turned to ride-sharing alternatives to avoid falling victim to these criminal gangs. The continuous existence of these criminals raises fundamental questions about the FCT administration's effectiveness in addressing a crisis that makes daily life uncertain for commuters and residents alike.
