For many residents of Abuja, the daily commute is more than an inconvenience—it is a risk.
Long waits, limited transport options and overcrowded roads have become routine across the capital. But beyond the frustration lies a deeper concern: the growing threat of “one-chance” crimes, where unsuspecting commuters are lured into vehicles operated by criminals posing as commercial drivers.
As transport gaps persist, residents say they are increasingly forced to choose between getting home and staying safe.
A journey that turned into a nightmare
For Abuja-based entrepreneur, Sandra Dogoh, what began as a routine trip home from Gwarimpa quickly escalated into a traumatic ordeal.
She had boarded a commercial vehicle heading towards Mpape, unaware that it was operated by a criminal gang. With two men in front and a mix of passengers joining along the way, nothing initially seemed out of place.
“I didn’t count it as anything strange,” she recalled. “If you’re not quick to enter, you might miss the next vehicle going your way.”
But shortly after the journey began, the situation changed. The windows were rolled up, loud music filled the car, and the passengers were suddenly restrained.
Dogoh said one of the attackers pinned her legs while another damaged the door lock to prevent escape. The victims were ordered to shut their eyes as their belongings were taken.
“They forced us to unlock our phones and banking apps,” she said, adding that money was withdrawn directly from their accounts. One victim reportedly lost more than ₦80,000.
The group was driven around for hours before being abandoned in Utako, stripped of valuables and left stranded. Residents nearby later came to their aid.
The psychological toll, she said, lingered long after the incident.
“I had to resign from my job… every evening, the fear would come,” she said, describing the anxiety that followed.
Another survivor, a similar pattern
Joseph Omenje, a gardener based in Abuja, recounts a similar encounter—one that nearly cost him his life.
He had boarded what appeared to be a regular vehicle along the Abuja–Nasarawa route after purchasing a phone. But the journey took a dangerous turn when the driver ignored his request to stop.
Moments later, a knife was placed against his throat.
He said he was overpowered, blindfolded and later lost consciousness after being covered with a substance. When he regained awareness, he found himself abandoned in a bush along Akwanga Road, tied up alongside another victim.
According to him, the attackers had already transferred ₦70,000 from his account and taken even more from the female passenger.
“They beat me when I refused to give my ATM PIN,” he said.
They were eventually rescued by passersby, but the experience left lasting trauma.
Beyond individual cases, many residents point to a larger systemic issue—an inadequate and unreliable public transport system.
Muhammed Adedakpo, a banker in Abuja, said the shortage of government-run buses has forced many commuters to rely on informal transport options.
“In my area, you hardly see the Abuja Urban Mass Transport buses,” he said. “You’re left with no choice but to enter whatever is available.”
Commercial drivers say rising fuel costs have further strained the system, pushing fares up and limiting availability.
According to one driver, Suilaman Sanbotakai, commuters often make rushed decisions based on cost and urgency—sometimes at the expense of safety.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has repeatedly warned residents about the risks of boarding unverified vehicles.
Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh urged commuters to use designated parks, avoid tinted or unregistered vehicles, and remain alert to suspicious behaviour.
She noted that many incidents occur along highways rather than at recognised bus stops.
“If you notice anything unusual… that is a red flag—do not board,” she said.
Her warning follows recent cases, including the killing of two residents earlier this year, linked to suspected one-chance operators.
Policy gaps and the way forward
Stakeholders argue that the crisis is rooted in deeper structural failures.
Hannatu Salihu of Inter-Metro Transport Solutions Ltd points to the absence of a unified transport policy in Abuja as a major challenge.
“Everybody just does whatever they want to do,” she said, noting that the lack of regulation has enabled both inefficiency and insecurity.
She added that weak government involvement has discouraged investment in the sector, limiting the development of safer, more structured transport systems.
Experts say solutions could include regulated mass transit systems, stronger enforcement and licensing, dedicated transport infrastructure and public-private partnerships.
“If the policy is properly implemented, it can create jobs, improve safety and generate revenue,” Salihu said.
For many Abuja residents, commuting has become a daily calculation—balancing urgency, cost, and risk.
Until safer, more reliable transport systems are in place, that choice may continue to come with consequences.
Report by Godwin Igber