The rising wave of highway crime in Abuja has been linked to insufficient car parks in the city, writes PRINCESS ETUK
The Federal Territory Capital, Abuja which used to be one of the safest places to live in Nigeria, currently grappling with security challenges. Highway robbery and kidnapping are becoming common occurrences in the country’s seat of government.
Last month, protesters blocked the Gwari end of the Abuja-Kaduna Highway to express their frustrations over incessant kidnapping in Abuja.
Many commuters have lost their valuables to robbers, who posed as transporters, known as ‘one chance’.
Elizabeth Michael shared her recent ordeal with a ‘one chance’ gang.
According to Michael, there was no bus stop nearby; she had to board a car at a junction in Life Camp.
“When I entered, lo and behold, it was ‘one chance’ criminals. Then, they pounced on me and covered my mouth. They took everything from me. When they were done, they threw me out of the moving vehicle and drove off. I had to trek a distance before I saw a safe place where a group of vehicles were parked and took a drop to my home,” she remarked.
Salem Okpanachi shared a terrifying encounter with a ‘one chance’ gang while travelling along Life Camp Road. According to Salem, he boarded a seemingly normal vehicle, but there were only two other passengers- one seated in front and one behind him.
“When I entered, there was nothing suspicious until they sped up and I asked what was happening. Immediately, the passenger behind me pulled out a knife and asked me to bring out my phone, which I did, and they searched my pockets and took my money.
“While he was trying to gather the money, his attention left me and I stamped his face with my foot. His head broke the back window glass. That was when they stopped the car and I opened the door and jumped out and ran into the nearby bush path.
“They didn’t come after me because they saw that the person who was beside me was unconscious. They drove off with him. That was how God saved me from their hands,” he narrated.
Lack of parks
Meanwhile, drivers have linked the rising crime rate in the Federal Capital Territory to a shortage of bus terminals.
A cab driver operating in Utako Car Park, Mohammed Argo, told The PUNCH that the insufficient car parks in Abuja had exposed commuters to crimes, especially ‘one chance’.
He called on the government to build more parks in the city to checkmate the rising wave of crime.
He said, “Passengers’ safety is paramount. Using motor parks allows for accountability, making it easier to retrieve lost items. The government should consider increasing the number of parks for commuters’ convenience.”
Also in an interview with The PUNCH, a driver at Galadimawa Roundabout Car Park, Adah Tercel, said that the lack of parks was making passengers face the challenge of balancing fares and safety.
He urged the government to provide more parks to reduce the risk posed by unregistered vehicles.
“We have about three parks in Galadima roundabout. The problem is that from here to Lugbe is N300. Some people would say they could not afford that amount, so they chose to stand by the road. That is why some people prefer to stand by the road, which exposes them to a lot of dangers like ‘one chance’,” he explained.
Another registered driver at Jabi Airport Road Car Park, Issac Michael, noted that parks offer safety and the ability to recover lost items.
According to Michael, the responsibility lies with the government and passengers. “Additional parks and reduced fuel prices would encourage compliance with designated terminals,” he maintained.
A cab driver at Galadimawa Car Park, Bashir Auwal, said that commuters must listen to warnings against entering vehicles outside the park to avoid ‘one chance’ incidents.
He stressed the need for the government to build more car parks to enhance the safety of passengers.
Use of licensed taxis
Speaking with The PUNCH, the Public Relations Officer of the Transportation Secretariat, Ifeanyi Ughamadu, urged commuters to always board licensed taxis.
According to Ughamadu, the presence of designated terminals and taxi ranks aimed to provide a safe and organised system for commuters.
“We have terminals in various parts of the city for commuters to board and alight safely. However, the issue arises when commuters choose convenience over safety by opting to be picked up at their discretion. This poses a significant risk as unregistered drivers may prey on unsuspecting passengers, leading to dangerous situations,” Ughamadu explained.
He emphasised the importance of patronising licensed taxi operators who adhered to strict regulations to ensure passenger safety.
“We advise commuters to look for the side number displayed on licensed taxis, as it serves as a crucial identifier linked to the driver and vehicle. In case of any untoward incidents, this number can be used to track down the driver responsible,” Ughamadu added.
While acknowledging the limited taxi parks in the city, Ughamadu noted the shared responsibility in curbing criminal activities in the transportation sector.
He encouraged commuters to cooperate with the authorities by patronising licensed taxis and reporting any suspicious or unauthorised vehicles.
Commenting on the inadequate bus terminals in Abuja, FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, argued that bus terminals were sufficient.
She said, “With the current commissioner of police, we haven’t had any cases of those incidents in Abuja. Any case that is not reported to the police did not happen.
“These criminals target people who board vehicles along the road, especially during peak times.”
She revealed that police personnel had been deployed to various parks, including those that lacked official approval but were well-known, to monitor activities closely.
“Our personnel are deployed in different parks wearing mufti, watching and observing what is going on,” Adeh stated.
She mentioned that there was a collaboration between law enforcement and registered vehicle unions to enhance security in the FCT.
The police spokesperson cautioned commuters against boarding non-painted vehicles and encouraged the public to remain cautious.
“Some of these vehicles have mischievous plate numbers and are not usually registered.
“Since they now know that people are aware of their mode of operations, they have resorted to painting their vehicles,” she disclosed.
She also pointed out that females were being incorporated into ‘one chance’ gangs, including pregnant women and even couples.
“While we continue to pursue these criminals, we urge the public to remain vigilant and refrain from flagging vehicles along the road,” she stated.
He encouraged commuters to utilise identified parks regardless of distance for boarding vehicles for their safety.
Adeh also urged residents to save the FCT Command emergency number, 08032003913 and emphasised the importance of timely reporting in case of emergencies.
Police arrest gangs
The FCT police command arrested three suspected members of a ‘one chance’ gang in Abuja as part of their efforts to rid the FCT of criminals.
The command spokesperson, who revealed this in a statement, noted that the suspects: Gabriel Abba, Sunday Abba and Abdulkareem Jaffaru were arrested earlier in the month.
According to Adeh, the suspects had been under the watch of the police for some time, which led to their arrest.
“The suspects, long under the Command’s watch for these offences, were taken into custody. The operation resulted in the recovery of two vehicles: an ash-coloured Toyota Corolla Car without a registered number and a black Toyota Camry 206 model, also without a registered number and one Baretta pistol.
“While investigations are ongoing to locate and apprehend other members of the syndicate currently evading arrest, Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Haruna G. Garba psc, reassures residents of an unwavering commitment to fostering a secure and serene environment, ” she disclosed.
In January, the FCT police command also arrested three members of the ‘one chance’ syndicate, including a couple.
The FCT Police Command spokesperson said the suspects confessed to the crimes during interrogation.
According to Adeh, the arrests were made January 9-10 and identified the couple as Chukwudi Okorie, a 51-year-old male, and Chibuzor Okorie, a 43-year-old female, alongside Esther Gabriel, 38 – all residents of Akaraka village in Gwagwa area of the FCT.
“A blue Mazda car with Reg No. FCT 590 EV, an operational vehicle used by the syndicate to perpetrate their heinous acts was recovered from one of the suspects.
“While the investigation is still ongoing to apprehend other accomplices, the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Haruna G. Garba psc, wishes to reiterate his unflinching commitment to ensuring FCT remain a safe and peaceful place for residents to stay without fair from any quarters of the Territory,” she disclosed in the statement.
And earlier this month, a serving officer of the Nigerian Air Force, John Ijudigal, foiled a ‘one-chance’ robbery and kidnap attempt in Wuse, Abuja.
According to a statement by the NAF spokesperson, Edward Gabkwet, the incident occurred on 14 February 14, along Accra Road, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, at about 7.28 p.m.
“As the senior officer was commuting home in his staff car after work, he suddenly came across a distressing scene.
“Air Commodore Ijudigal saw an Abuja-painted taxi, a Mazda 323, with registration BWR 232 XB, reversing at high speed, with terrified passengers inside screaming for help.
“In pursuit of the taxi was a black Toyota Land Cruiser.
“Instinctively, Ijudigal immediately joined in the pursuit by using his official vehicle to block the escape route of the criminals.
“The driver of the ‘one-chance’ vehicle, in a state of panic, then collided with Air Commodore Idjudigal’s official vehicle, resulting in significant damage to both cars. The impact caused the ‘one-chance’ vehicle to skid into a nearby garden.
“Following the collision, Air Commodore Ijudigal promptly exited his vehicle and chased after one of the occupants of the ‘one-chance’ taxi, who had fled into a nearby bush.
“With the assistance of onlookers gathered at the accident scene, the driver of the ‘one-chance’ vehicle, along with two other suspects, a male and a female, were apprehended while two female victims were rescued,” he said.
