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"One Chance", pickpockets in Abuja

The activities of armed robbers posing as taxi drivers popularly called "one chance" to dispossess unsuspecting passengers of their valuables were hitherto rampant only in Lagos state, however, in recent times, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has come under siege, especially as the criminals are now being complemented by pickpockets in major bus stops. PAUL OKAH reports.

 In Nigerian parlance, “one chance” is a name given to robbery gangs that rob in commercial buses or taxis. They usually have members of the gang in the bus or taxi, who pretend to be genuine passengers and drive around looking for victims. However, unlike genuine commercial drivers, they do not pick more than one or two victims at a time. Then they drive the unsuspecting victims to a remote place, where they are threatened with guns, cutlasses, charms or other dangerous weapons and then dispossessed of either their money, handsets, laptops or other valuables. Sometimes, after dispossessing the unsuspecting passenger-victims of their valuables, the criminal gang pushes them out of the moving vehicle or, if they are kind enough, they stop for their victims to alight, before they zoom off to share their loot or rob other victims. But those pushed off the taxis and buses can be said to be the lucky ones, as some victims have equally been raped (in the case of women) or used for ritual purposes, with their mutilated bodies found by the road side. Some are even missing till now.

  Method of operation
From Paul Okah Blog's investigations, it was gathered that, to ensure successful operations and to avoid a run-in with the police, these “one chance” criminals operate mostly during the early hours of the morning and late in the evening. Usually at this time, there is a rush by those going to work early in the morning, to avoid traffic congestion. Then, in the evening, those returning from work or their places of business, a busy day, would only be interested in getting home to rest and would naturally hop into any available vehicle, thereby falling victim to the activities of “one chance” criminals.

  Lagos origin
Paul Okah Blog's investigations further revealed that the “one chance” criminal activities have their origin in Lagos state after the independence of Nigeria. Lagos is regarded as the most populous city in West Africa, where different people, from diverse backgrounds, meet to eke out a living and to make it away from their different villages. However, the activities of these “one chance” criminals in the cosmopolitan city of Lagos were so worrisome that ninety percent of residents were said to have fallen victim at one time or the other. The popular parlance "Eko oni baje" roughly translated to mean “Lagos no go spoil” can be linked to the activities of these “one chance” drivers, pickpockets and other criminals. As a result, instead of being welcomed to the city, new comers are warned: “This is Lagos” and for them to “shine your eyes,” otherwise one can easily fall prey to the activities of criminals in different guises. Over time, the crime spilled into other major cities across the country, like Kaduna, Onitsha, Benin, Aba, Enugu, Kano, Uyo, Jos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, etc.

  One chance in Abuja
As Abuja replaced the country’s most populous city of Lagos as the capital of Nigeria on December 12, 1991, the “one chance” criminal drivers naturally turned their attention to the developing nation’s capital. Just like in Lagos and other developed cities, residents of Abuja have come in contact with these “one chance” taxi drivers at one time or the other and have one chilling story or the other to tell of their experiences. From Paul Okah Blog investigations, it was discovered that many residents of the FCT have been thrown out of a moving vehicle, after being robbed by the criminals and sustained injuries in the process. In fact, the victims’ experiences are not pleasantly related by them. The criminals, sometimes working individually or in groups, employ different tactics to deprive their victims of their property. Some residents of Abuja, who spoke with Paul Okah Blog, alleged that some painted Abuja taxis are now notorious for the crime, hitherto practised by operators of unpainted taxis.

  Hypnotised and robbed 
Narrating his unpalatable experience to Paul Okah Blog in an exclusive chat, a recent victim of the ugly “one chance” trend, Mr. Ibrahim Dangata, said he was hypnotised, robbed and injured by the criminals on his way to Wuse from Mararaba, just few weeks ago.As he is yet to start speaking, due to the injury to his mouth, he told this reporter, in a Whatsapp chat, that he lost consciousness after coming in contact with “one chance” criminals and found himself in Abuja National Hospital. He said: “Some weeks ago, I went to Mararaba to check on a friend. On my way back, I boarded a car in private colour heading to Wuse-Berger. In the vehicle, there was just the driver and a passenger. About few kilometres to AYA, the man at the front kindly asked me to help him buy pure water, so he gave me N20. That was all I could remember, until I found myself at the National Hospital in Abuja. My phones and some of my belongings were stolen and I sustained injury on my body, my face and I lost a tooth. "When I asked my brother, he said they searched for me for hours, but a policeman later called them that they found my living body around Jabi. So, they brought me to the National Hospital, where, after many days, I had a surgery and spent about N400, 000 on my medical care. It was a very sad experience.”

  Family robbed
Similarly, while narrating her encounter to Paul Okah Blog, another resident of the FCT, Mrs. Divine Ifeyinwa Otu, said that she had an ugly experience with “one chance” criminals in the yuletide of 2015, alongside other members of her family. She said that they were robbed at gun point and forced to surrender the items they were travelling home with. She said: “My family and I spent the yuletide of 2015 in regrets, as we were robbed by “one chance” drivers at Dei Dei on December 24, 2015, on our way to the village for the yuletide. Being a busy period, we had a difficult time getting a bus so early in the morning, as I left the house with my husband and two children by 5am. “We were then living in Zuba and needed to board Peace Mass Transit in Utako that would take us directly to our village for convenience. We were waiting by the roadside when a bus with some passengers stopped and carried us and loaded our luggage in the booth. However, we did not know we had boarded a “one chance” bus. I even shared the word of God and prayed for the occupants of the bus. However, just after Dei Dei and getting to Kubwa, before we knew what was happening, the driver changed directions from where we were going, with a serious warning for us “to corporate well or die.” Continuing, she said: “They searched our pockets and took away all our money. They also took away all the new items we brought, including: clothes, shoes, bags, foreign rice, oil, etc. We were only left with our old clothes. Fortunately, the only money left with us was the N1, 000 I wanted to pay as tithe to my church, which was inside my Bible. “Those guys are wicked than the devil himself. You can’t imagine, they dropped us at a very lonely area in a village called Wida. We had to retrace our steps to the road and used the N1, 000 meant for my tithe to transport ourselves back to Zuba. That was the end of December as far as we were concerned.”

  Photojournalist robbed
Furthermore, a photojournalist with Blueprint Newspapers in Abuja, Mr. Ayuba Raji, was on Sunday, August 12, this year, dispossessed of his belongings around the National Stadium, Abuja by a group of armed robbers. Narrating his ordeal, Raji said that he boarded a taxi from NICON Junction in Maitama to Area 1, Abuja, in company with some passengers. According to him, “Rather than head to our destination, the driver took to the road leading to Lugbe axis, and stopped the car around the National Stadium where they dispossessed me of my belongings." Continuing, he said: “I never knew that all the occupants in the car were working together when I boarded the car after I had closed from work at about 8:30pm on Sunday. About a kilometer to my destination, instead of the driver to go straight, he turned to the road leading to Lugbe, and stopped the car at exactly around the National Stadium. When I challenged them, they rough-handled me, pulled me out of the car and pointed a gun on my forehead, threatening to shoot me. They dispossessed me of my professional camera and its accessories, Blueprint Newspapers' staff identification card, National Assembly Correspondent identification card, Police Journalist identification card, N4,000, among other things.” Raji said he had already reported the matter to the Police and his organisation, but "the police are still investigating" the incident as at the time of filing this report.

  Robbed and raped
Also, a lady, who pleaded to use the false name of Grace Jones, confided in this reporter that she was once robbed and raped by a "one chance" taxi driver on her way home one night and thanked God that she did not contact any disease, because "it could have been worse". She said that the incident is still haunting her. "Not many ladies can readily admit to being raped,because of societal stigma, but I am happily married and I have nothing to lose by talking about my experience for people to learn from. I can now talk about my experience because it was years ago, but I still feel bad thinking about it. I closed very late from work that day and met the taxi driver, who appeared a gentleman. I boarded his cab to take me to Garki. It was a "drop" as I have often heard cases of "one chance" drivers and did not go for any other cab with passengers. However, I still can’t explain what happened as I felt myself feeling drowsy upon coming in contact with the taxi driver. I regained consciousness in a bush few hours later, with my clothes tampered with, as he obviously carnal knowledge of me. Of course, my handbag and the content was gone. I still can't explain how I got home that night, but I made sure to check into a hospital the next day. I still can't stop thanking God, because I am not better than those used for money rituals and it could have been worse.”

  ATM cards at risk too
Investigations by this reporter revealed that, though victims have fallen prey of the nefarious activities of "one chance" drivers, the advent of bank Automated Teller Machine (ATM), which helps to reduce the volume of cash people carry on them, also makes it very easy for the criminals to carry out their operations. The criminal gangs have devised new methods of robbing unsuspecting passengers, as they have realised that some people have their ATM cards in their bags or wallets. So, instead of robbing the passengers that fall prey to them and allowing him or her to go, they search the passengers, take their ATM cards, take them to a particular destination, hold them hostage and then demand for their ATM PIN. Woe betide such victim if he or she should play smart by giving a wrong password, as he or she may not come out of the place alive. Having disclosed the security code, one of the gang members would rush to the bank to empty the victim’s account. They would, thereafter, blindfold the victim and drop him or her on the way and zoom off.

  Prone areas
From the experiences recounted to Paul Okah Blog by victims, a common factor appears to show that these "one chance" criminal motorists pick particular spots in the FCT to carry out their nefarious activities. While no route in the city is spared of the crime, there are some places, however, that are notorious for this act. Such places, according to some victims, include: Berger Roundabout, Jabi, Gwagwa, Zuba, Kubwa, Apo, Mabushi, Nyanya, among other other areas.

  Pickpockets also operating
Just like in Lagos state and other developed cities across the country, where activities of pickpockets are the order of the day, commuters in the FCT equally complain of being robbed of valuables, especially at busstops, by pickpockets. "They usually pretend to be waiting for a bus," Musa Abdullahi, a civil servant, told this reporter. "You may not know or different a pickpocket from a number of FCT residents waiting for a bus in places like Secretariat, AYA, Berger, Area 1,etc. They usually wait until there is a rush. Then they gently frisk passengers, stealing their wallets, phones and money. The victims may not know about it until they are requested to pay for their fares. At other times, a lucky pickpocket may even board a bus and steal from his fellow passengers; without their knowing anything about it. However, such a passenger would alight at the nearest busstop after accomplishing his act. Victims are then left to rue their misfortunes."

  Passengers, prey to pickpockets Similarly, Mr Nathaniel Isong, a computer engineer, said that he was once a victim of the nefarious activities of pickpockets in the FCT. According to him, he boarded a bus going to Mararaba from Secretariat only to realize that he had been robbed by pickpockets. "Anyone who doesn't own a car in Abuja is really standing a risk of being robbed by pickpockets or "one chance" drivers. I once lost my wallet to pickpockets at a busstop here in Abuja, but it has happened to other people too. Just go to Nyanya, Berger or Mararaba busstop and market and see if your wallet or phone will not be stolen if you are not careful," he said.
Taxi-driver gives tips
A taxi driver in Jabi, Mr Francis Odogwu, said that members of his FCT taxi drivers' association are worried about the ugly developments in the city, as many passengers have complained to him at different times of being robbed. He equally gave tips on how passengers can avoid being robbed. He said: "The reported "one chance" activities are not undertaken by any member of our association, as members of our association are registered and use painted taxis. Every painted taxi has a registration number, which residents can use in tracing the driver, in case of any sad development. Some people have forgotten items in my taxi and I always keep it for them to claim in our park. However, I will advise passengers and FCT residents to always ensure that they board painted taxis and not in lonely areas. They should go to approved bus stations when they want to board a bus or taxi. They should not accept lifts from strangers and should be careful of all-male passengers, as females are sometimes not part of a criminal gang. They should avoid buses or taxis with curtains and they should also observe other passengers before they board any vehicle."

  Police reacts
When this reporter visited the Police Command Headquarters in Garki, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, said that the Command has instituted a Special Anti "One Chance" Squad to investigate cases bordering on the activities of "one chance" criminal taxi drivers. Speaking through the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Anjuguri Manza, Ciroma said that the police have recorded a huge success in fighting crime in the FCT. He said that the activities of "one chance" criminals are on the decline, but that the police will not relax yet. He said: "On 7th August, 2018, following a tip off, police operatives from Lugbe Division arrested three suspects: 2 men and a lady, while trying to escape; after a failed one chance robbery operation. The suspects were identified by one of their victims at a busstop in Lugbe, while trying to lure another unsuspecting victim. "The suspects operate in a red Volks Wagen saloon car, with Reg. No AP 366 GDD, which has been recovered as exhibit. Investigations are ongoing, but we have really recorded a lot of success, even though our successes are not adequately reported in the media. The crime rate is dropping, but we will not relax in fighting crime in the FCT."

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