We’ve instituted special anti-one chance squad – Police

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 kilometre 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 roughhandled 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 were 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 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 betides 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.
High-prone areas From the experiences recounted to Blueprint Weekend 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 areas.
Pickpockets 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 bus stops, by pickpockets.
“They usually pretend to be waiting for a bus,” Musa Abdullahi, a civil servant, told this reporter.
“A pickpocket usually operates on a number of FCT residents waiting for buses 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 bus stop after accomplishing his act.
Victims are then left to rue their misfortunes.” 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 realise 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 bus stop here in Abuja, but it has happened to other people too.
Just go to Nyanya, Berger or Mararaba bus stop 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 react When this reporter visited the Police Command Headquarters in Garki, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, said the Command had instituted a Special Anti-One Chance Squad to investigate cases bordering on the activities of criminal taxi drivers.
Speaking through the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Anjuguri Manza, Ciroma said the police have recorded a huge success in fighting crime in the FCT.
He said the activities of one chance criminals are on the decline, but that the police will not relax yet.
He said: “On August 7, 2018, following a tip-off, police operatives from Lugbe Division arrested three suspects: Two 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 bus stop in Lugbe, while trying to lure another unsuspecting victim.
“The suspects operate in a red Volkswagen 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; we will not relax in fighting crime in the FCT.”