A suspected “one chance” robber narrowly escaped being lynched by an angry mob at Area 11, Garki, Abuja, on Tuesday. The incident occurred when a woman, identified as Gloria Moses, raised an alarm after realizing the driver of the vehicle she boarded had sinister intentions.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspect, who was driving a Toyota Mazda, picked up Gloria Moses at the Banex Junction in Wuse II, Abuja. She had hailed the car, believing it was a legitimate taxi, and requested to be taken to Apo, a popular destination in Abuja. However, as the journey progressed, the driver diverted from the expected route, causing Moses to become suspicious of his motives.
Upon approaching the Area 11 district in Garki, Moses realized something was terribly wrong. Sensing that the driver intended to abduct her, she bravely raised an alarm, shouting for help as they neared a populated area. Her cries attracted the attention of passers-by, who quickly responded by flagging down the car.
The crowd swiftly apprehended the suspect, dragging him out of the vehicle before delivering a severe beating in an attempt to administer street justice. Another man, believed to be an accomplice, managed to flee the scene before the crowd could apprehend him.
One witness recounted the chaotic scene: “There were two suspects in the vehicle, but one escaped as soon as the car was stopped. The main suspect was caught and beaten by the crowd until security operatives arrived just in time to save him from being lynched.”
Security officers from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command arrived at the scene and rescued the suspect from further harm, whisking him away to prevent the mob from delivering fatal justice. The suspect, severely beaten and in critical condition, was taken into custody for further investigation.
The spokeswoman for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, had not yet confirmed the incident at the time of this report, but the police are expected to release further details following a thorough investigation.
“One chance” robbery, a common crime in Abuja and other major cities in Nigeria, involves criminals posing as taxi drivers to abduct and rob unsuspecting passengers. While the suspects often lure victims by pretending to offer them a ride, they quickly turn on their passengers, sometimes violently, after driving them to isolated locations.
Residents of Abuja have been urged to remain vigilant when using public transport and to avoid boarding vehicles with suspicious-looking drivers or passengers. The police also advise passengers to use registered ride-hailing services or verify the legitimacy of taxis to avoid falling victim to such criminal schemes.
The FCT Police Command continues to crack down on criminal activities, assuring residents that they are working hard to rid the city of such threats.
