Police Arrest Abuja ‘One Chance’ Gang, Recover ₦8.8 Million Ransom
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspected 'one chance' kidnapping syndicate that abducted a woman and collected ₦8.8 million ransom from her family. The police recovered the full amount, two vehicles, mobile phones, and other stolen items. One suspect admitted the gang targeted women because they are less likely to resist.
Tracking and Arrest
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the case began when the police received a distress call about a young woman kidnapped after boarding a vehicle operated by the syndicate. The kidnappers initially demanded a higher amount but eventually accepted ₦8.8 million and released the victim. However, police continued tracking the phone used for negotiations, leading to the arrest of the entire gang and recovery of the ransom.
SP Adeh stated: 'Like you all know, FCT residents have been battling with issues of one-chance activities within the FCT and the Commissioner of Police has charged all the additional police officers to ensure that they bring an end to one-chance activities.' She added that the tracking unit monitored the syndicate even after the victim was released, resulting in the successful operation.
Suspects Confess Targeting Women
During the parade, one suspect admitted the gang deliberately targeted women, saying: 'Because they are not struggling.' He confessed that the gang had collected varying amounts from previous victims: ₦500,000, ₦1.5 million, ₦2 million, and finally ₦8.8 million. A female suspect also admitted that her boyfriend was the driver of the vehicle used in the operations, and that one of the two recovered vehicles was specifically used for 'one chance' activities.
Ongoing Investigation
Police said investigations are ongoing, and all suspects will be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation. 'One chance' attacks remain a major security concern in Abuja, where victims are tricked into boarding fake taxis and then robbed, assaulted, or kidnapped for ransom. The FCT Police Command has stepped up efforts to curb this menace following directives from Commissioner of Police Ahmed Sanusi.
