The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested three suspects linked to one-chance robbery. Okwudili Benjamin, 41, and Chinedu Mbaka, 37, were arrested on 20 September near Court of Appeal Junction. Officers recovered nine Android phones, pliers, a wheel lock, bolt cutters and other items. A follow-up operation arrested Osondu Benard at Nyanya. He is alleged to be the buyer of stolen goods.
One-chance robbery is a persistent urban crime in Nigeria. The term describes gangs that operate fake taxis or buses. They pick up unsuspecting passengers. Once inside, they rob them, sometimes violently. Victims are pushed out of moving vehicles. Some have died. The crime is common in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt. Previous crackdowns have arrested suspects. The gangs regroup. The crime persists because it is profitable. Stolen phones and valuables are easily resold. Buyers like Benard sustain the market.
The arrests followed intelligence and surveillance. The suspects were tracked to Court of Appeal Junction. The recovered items confirm their trade. Nine phones suggest multiple victims. The tools suggest forced entry or intimidation. Bolt cutters and wheel locks are used to break into vehicles or immobilise them. Pliers are used to remove SIM cards or damage tracking.
The follow-up arrest of Benard is significant. It targets the demand side. Without buyers, robbers cannot dispose of stolen goods. Buyers are part of the criminal chain. Prosecuting them disrupts the market. The police should pursue more buyers. They should also trace the phones to their owners.
Residents have called for tough sentences. One-chance robbery is traumatic. Victims lose phones, money and dignity. Some are injured. The crime affects public confidence in transport. People avoid taxis. They pay more for safer options. The economic cost is real.
The FCT Police Command has intensified operations. The arrests are part of that push. The command has urged residents to report suspicious vehicles. It has also advised passengers to verify taxis before boarding. The advice helps. It does not eliminate the risk.
Winners: The FCT Police, which makes arrests. Victims who may recover phones. Residents, who gain some safety. The justice system, if prosecution follows. Losers: The suspects, who face charges. One-chance gangs, which lose operatives. Buyers of stolen goods, who face arrest. Commuters, who remain cautious.
Bottom Line: Three arrests, nine phones recovered. The police acted. One-chance robbery continues. Tougher sentences and buyer prosecutions would help. Until then, commuters stay alert.