The activities of one-chance operators had over the years become worrisome to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Their dubious operations have resulted in loss of property, huge sums of money, and, in some cases, lives.
The term one chance refers to a criminal activity that is commonly associated with robbery and scams, where passengers are picked up by unregistered taxi drivers who pretend to be regular operators.
Once inside the vehicle, the real motive of the crime unfolds as the victim is often trapped inside the vehicle, robbed of money and other valuables, and sometimes forcefully pushed out of the vehicle, resulting in death.
For Ms. Mary Michael (not real name), a civil servant, her encounter with the one chance operators left her with a bitter experience that will leave with her forever.
On that day, like any other day, she boarded the unpainted taxi at Garki to the Federal Secretariat. Inside the car were two occupants, one lady on the front seat and one man sat at the back.
She noticed something unusual when the driver manoeuvred his way out of the usual route to the Federal Secretariat Complex. On a second thought, she felt the driver was trying to avoid a bad traffic situation.
However, her worry heightened when she realised that their vehicle was speeding on the airport road. Her instinct told her immediately that she was in trouble.
“They stopped the vehicle. The guy sitting with me at the back pointed a knife at me and asked me to hand over all my money to him.
“I obeyed, but unfortunately, I had only N10,000 on me. They took it feeling that it was not enough for the troubles and asked for my ATM card, which I gave them.
“To my surprise, the lady in front seat had a POS machine and with it they cleared my account and pushed me out of the vehicle. That’s how I lost all my savings to one chance,’’ she narrated.
Michael’s story reflects what many commuters in Abuja have gone through at the hands of the syndicates, as well as the fear of falling victim.
She emerged with a mental scar; in many instances, the scar is both mental and physical.
Successive Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the FCT had deployed various strategies to curb the menace of one chance robbery in the territory.
The police in FCT deployed more patrols, initiated various operations and embarked on campaigns against boarding unpainted and registered taxis popularly known as along the road with accusing fingers pointing at their culpability in one chance menace.
Mr Bennett Igweh, the immediate past CP in charge of the FCT, upon assumption in February, declared one chance as robbery and promised those involved harsh treatment.
“I pity those that called themselves one chance because there is no law that recognises one chance as an offence in Nigeria.
“If you have the audacity, whether man or woman, to rob and call it one chance, we have the tenacity to treat you otherwise.
“In your interest, you better find what to do or move away from the FCT because you will receive what you never expected.
“In the next few days, we will begin to act it out, and FCT must return to what it used to be,” he vowed.
The commissioner said FCT was a known terrain for him and that he was prepared to tackle the security challenges currently being faced in the territory.
“I want to use this opportunity to inform the residents and indigenes of the FCT that peace has returned to the FCT today.
“To the criminals that are raising their ugly heads, I want to inform you that Igweh you used to know is back and we are going to act it out,” he said.
Igweh was within the year under review promoted to the rank of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and so was deployed as the AIG in charge of Zone 7.
The deployment of Igweh led to the emergence of Mr. Olatunji Disu as the CP in charge of the FCT.
Upon assumption of duty on Oct. 7, like his predecessor, Igweh, Disu pledged to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to crimes and criminalities in the FCT.
“As I assume this role, I am very much aware of the security challenges facing the FCT and the foundational work laid by my predecessors to maintain relative peace.
“I am committed to building upon this groundwork and enhancing our efforts to significantly improve the security situation in our territory.
“To those who seek to disrupt the tranquility of the FCT, I send a clear and resolute message. My tenure will be marked by a zero-tolerance to all forms of crime and criminality,” he said.
Disu said his administration would not waver in its commitment to safeguarding the FCT and ensuring effective law enforcement and respect of the rights of citizens.
Worried by the increasing rate of one-chance activities, the CP announced the deployment of additional personnel and equipment within his coverage area.
He said the deployment was to boost and strengthen patrols, stop-and-search operations, and surveillance across the FCT.
According to him, the idea is to combat the rising incidences of ‘one chance’ robbery and car theft in the territory.
He announced that vehicles without registration numbers, as well as those with only one plate number and others using defaced plates, would be impounded during the operation.
Disu added that regulations regarding covered number plates and tinted glasses would also be enforced.
“While these operations may cause some inconvenience, they reflect our commitment to the safety of all residents in FCT.
“The idea is to deter criminal activities targeted at motorists and passengers,” he said.
Disu said several stolen vehicles had been recovered and robbers apprehended since the commencement of the deployment.
Weeks into the enforcement of number plates and tinted glass regulations, Disu announced that operatives of the command impounded 296 vehicles.
He said the vehicles were impounded over use of tinted glass, driving with only one plate number, and use of concealed or defaced number plates.
Disu said the command’s recent declaration of war against “one chance” robbers and other criminal gangs in the FCT led to the arrest of several “one chance” robbery suspects.
He said the various operations of the command had successfully foiled several one chance attacks, resulting in the rescue of three victims abducted by the criminals.
The CP said over 20 vehicles had been recovered from suspected one-chance chance operator during routine patrols and stop and search operations across the FCT
Disu said several suspects had been apprehended with point-of-sale (POS) machines, laptops, phones, dollars, phone memory cards, blindfolds, and other incriminating items recovered from them.
According to him, the achievements highlight the effectiveness of the command’s proactive strategies and the importance of public collaboration in ensuring the safety of FCT residents.
He said the breakthroughs were achieved through robust intelligence gathering, surveillance, and targeted interventions.
According to him, a notable trend identified during the operations that led to the arrests and recoveries is that most of the vehicles used by the syndicate are tinted.
“This has made it easier for the criminals to conceal their activities and avoid detection.
“The command has dismantled key syndicates, apprehended suspects, and recovered crucial exhibits,” he said.
Residents of the territory had commended the command for the giant strives it recorded in the fight against “one chance” robbery in the FCT in the outgoing year 2024.
Some of the residents attributed the successes to some deliberate operations initiated by the police command and the various enlightenment campaigns against the menace.
Mrs. Sera Ojo, a resident, said the seizure of over 20 vehicles, belonging various one-chance syndicates by the police in the FCT was a major achievement in the fight against the menace in 2024.
She said the recovery of the vehicles implied that over 20 one chance groups were taken away from Abuja roads.
Ojo attributed the relative absence of one chance incidents in the last quarter of 2024 to the successes recorded by the police in the territory.
The residents said there was room for improvement and called on the police to build on the successes recorded in the last quarter of 2024.
Mr. Martins Okoh, another resident, called on the police in the FCT to sustain the achievements recorded in 2024 by strengthening its patrols and intelligence gathering.
He said the enforcement of tinted glass and number plate regulations was a welcome development and enjoined the police in the territory to sustain the temple.
Okoh said the improved stop-and-search operation by the command in 2024 was commendable but called for a strategy to ensure free flow of traffic during the exercise.
Mr. Olumon Sharafadeen, National Vice Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, called for the installation of adequate and functional closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Abuja to fight insecurity in the territory.
Sharafadeen said CCTV cameras were being used globally to fight crimes and criminalities.
According to him, CCTV cameras reduce the level of crime in every society because when the criminals know that they are being recorded, many of them stay away from crime.
He called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration to revitalise the existing CCTV cameras and extend the coverage across the city. (NAN)
