Fear grips Abuja as ‘One Chance’ gangs terrorise women with abductions, rape, and murder

Abuja residents are living in growing fear as the Federal Capital Territory faces a disturbing surge in deadly attacks by criminal gangs known as “One Chance” operators. These syndicates, often posing as commercial taxi or bus drivers, have intensified their operations, targeting unsuspecting commuters—mostly women whom they abduct, rob, assault, and in some cases, kill.

The brutal murder of Grace Godwin, a 23-year-old petrol station attendant, and Ghanaian national Freda Arnong has cast a grim spotlight on the scale of the menace. Godwin was abducted on July 11 after boarding a taxi in Mabushi; her body was later discovered dumped in Jabi. Similarly, Arnong was kidnapped on July 1, beaten and tortured after entering a cab near Transcorp Hilton, and died days later from her injuries.

These chilling cases are not isolated. Over the past few months, reports of similar attacks have flooded social media and community spaces, sparking outrage and urgent calls for action. Victims and survivors have described how the gangs lure passengers into taxis, drive them to unknown locations, and inflict violence. Women now avoid unmarked taxis, and many say they no longer feel safe commuting in the nation’s capital.

A National Youth Service Corps member, Vivian Okechukwu, recounted narrowly escaping a “One Chance” encounter when a driver changed routes and passengers turned hostile. “Since that day, I only enter taxis driven by people I know,” she said. Mothers like Hajia Binta Yusuf worry daily about their daughters’ safety just commuting to school.

Despite repeated police claims of arrests and patrols, the crimes persist. Public trust in the security apparatus continues to erode, with some residents suspecting insider complicity. Calls for real-time driver verification systems, regulation of commercial vehicles, and better monitoring are growing louder.

Security expert Ibrahim Musa warned that Abuja’s unregulated transport system creates fertile ground for such crimes. He urged the FCT minister to introduce mandatory digital IDs for commercial drivers, launch public safety campaigns, and ensure fast prosecution of offenders.

Many believe the FCT’s modernization efforts are hollow if residents cannot feel safe. “If illegal structures can be demolished overnight, then these criminal networks can also be dismantled,” said Ephraim Udoh, a resident of Garki Village. “We don’t just want roads and bridges we want to live.”

As more lives are lost, pressure mounts on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and security agencies to act swiftly and decisively. For families like those of Grace and Freda, the pain is still fresh and the question remains: how many more must die before Abuja becomes safe again?