Time To Contain One-chance Crime

With the New Year’s festivities barely over, Abuja residents were rudely reminded of the longstanding affront to personal safety that has been rife in the capital city for long. Two female professionals were killed within 48 hours by traffic robbers, notoriously referred to as ‘once chance’. The first casualty was Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziema, a nurse at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, who was murdered on 3 January 2026 after boarding a vehicle home from her shift. Two days later, Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo, a lawyer, suffered the same fate while also returning home from work.

The two incidents not only sent shockwaves through the Federal Capital Territory and its environs but also highlighted the daily menace of urban crime to commuters. Once-chance criminals usually pose as commercial drivers or passengers to rob, assault or kill unsuspecting commuters.

Regrettably, this form of crime has grown in intensity, becoming a full-blown security crisis. Initially a sporadic urban crime, once-chance operations have become increasingly violent, organised and emboldened, exploiting gaps in law enforcement and public transportation systems.

The tragic deaths of Nurse Chuwumeziema and Barrister Chigbo add to the many other Abuja residents whose tragic encounters with these criminals go unreported. In fact, there is hardly any Abuja resident who has not fallen victim or knows someone who has.

It is a sad reminder that Abuja residents live in a city where public transport is inadequate and uncoordinated, and commuting in the evening and at night is often unavoidable, especially for health workers, security personnel, journalists, service professionals and other such workers.

Often, many residents have little choice but to board any available vehicle. Criminals exploit this reality, operating in broad daylight and even more aggressively after dusk. Victims are often drugged, beaten, stripped of valuables and dumped by the roadside. In extreme cases, like Chinemerem’s, they never make it back alive.

Of late, they have added a new dimension to their activities. These days, they force victims to reveal their bank details, clear all the money therein, hold victims captive and call their relatives to demand ransom, all the while driving around the city with the victim.

Expectedly, the activities of these criminals have left Abuja residents concerned about their safety while commuting in the capital. A capital city meant to symbolise national unity and safety has instead become a place of anxiety and suspicion.

More importantly, this crime exposes structural failures in the city’s governance. First is the chronic inadequacy of public transportation. Abuja’s transport system has not kept pace with its population growth.

The absence of a reliable, regulated and affordable mass transit system forces commuters into informal transport arrangements where criminals thrive. There is also a weak law enforcement presence and response system.

Despite the crime being a significant concern in Abuja, the security agencies have not developed any strategic policing measures to curb it, beyond occasional arrests. This only goes to embolden the criminals and erode public trust in the security agencies.

Combating this menace requires a multi-pronged, sustained approach. First, the government must urgently invest in a comprehensive and efficient public transportation system. The city’s administration must prioritise functional city-wide bus services and a light rail system. When commuters have safe alternatives, the operating space for once-chance criminals will diminish.

Second, law enforcement agencies must step up visible patrols, especially during early mornings and late evenings when commuters are most vulnerable. Strategic checkpoints, undercover operations and rapid-response units along known flashpoints can deter criminal activity. Technology should also be leveraged: CCTV cameras, vehicle-tracking systems and emergency reporting apps can enhance surveillance and response.

Third, arrested suspects should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted transparently. Publicising convictions will send a strong message that crime has consequences. At the same time, internal discipline within the security agencies must be enforced to eliminate corruption or complicity that enables these gangs.

There must also be community involvement in combating this menace. Residents, transport unions and local businesses must collaborate with security agencies to share information. Public awareness campaigns should also be employed to educate commuters on safety tips, warning signs and emergency contacts, to reduce their vulnerability.

Finally, the government must recognise the human cost of inaction. Unfortunately, this menace primarily affects the poor and lower-middle class, who cannot afford to own cars. Victims like the two female professionals above were hardworking Nigerians contributing to society. Their deaths, and those of countless unnamed victims, represent not just a security failure but a moral one. A society that cannot guarantee safe passage for its caregivers, professionals and workers is failing its most basic duty.

The security agencies must not behave as if they cannot contain this crime, because they can. And they must not wait for a prominent figure to become a victim before giving it the attention it deserves.