‘One Chance’ Vehicles: Police Caution Abuja Residents

• Say avoid unpainted taxis, ‘kabu-kabu’

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – With the alarming increase in crimes and criminality within Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Police Command has cautioned residents to be wary of boarding unpainted taxis, otherwise known as ‘kabu-kabu’.

According to the Command, the advisory became imperative so that unsuspecting members of the public can easily avoid being victims of armed gangs, popularly known as ‘One Chance’, operating across the territory.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Haruna Garba, who issued the advisory on Tuesday at a media briefing, said; “I wish to advise residents of the FCT to be wary of the kind of vehicles they board. It is advised that they should board only painted taxis from designated motor parks.”

Specifically, the Police Chief said; “It is risky to board an unpainted taxis otherwise known as ‘kabu-kabu’ as they may fall victims of these robbers known as One Chance”, disclosing that police operatives in Abuja, while on crime prevention patrol, rescued one Ebere Alice, who boarded a Golf taxi and was robbed by the driver and the gang members of her belongings before dropping her off.

CP Garba said the operatives were able to stop the vehicle and arrest three suspects following a hot chase after the criminals, adding; “They include Sylvester Attah, the gang leader, who has been into ‘One Chance’ robbery for the past three years, Olalekan Salihu, and Gabriel Okwashi.

“The suspects confessed to the crime and the Golf car with Reg. No TKP 624 AA used in committing the crime was recovered. Suspects will be arraigned in court at the conclusion of investigation”.

The Commissioner also disclosed that acting on a credible intelligence, Police operatives from Mabushi Division, arrested one Samuel Vincent, a member of a robbery gang, who specialises in robbing unsuspecting taxi passengers of their belongings.

He further stated that; “The suspect was about to be lynched by an angry mob before Police intervention. The suspect, alongside three others currently at large, had picked a woman (name unknown) from Karmo heading to Lugbe, and then diverted the vehicle to Mabushi area and dispossessed the victim of her belongings.

“The suspect confessed to his involvement in the crime and the car used in perpetrating the crime has been recovered. Suspect is cooperating with the police on how to apprehend the fleeing suspects”.

Similarly, CP Garba said through credible intelligence, police operatives from Mabushi Division also trailed and arrested four other suspected armed robbers, namely Oluwatobi Precious (an ex-convict), Theophilous Elkana, Ibrahim Usman and Umar Ibrahim, another ex-convict.

He said; “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects robbed motorists of their phones while in traffic jam around Mobil filing station, Mabushi and zoomed off in a getaway golf car.

“Suspects confessed to the crime, while the said Golf car with Reg. No. DKA 288 RY, grey in colour, an Iphone 14 Pro Max and several ATM cards bearing different names and substances suspected to be cocaine were recovered from them”.

Further reeling out successes recorded by the Command in tackling crimes across the capital territory, the Police boss said operatives from Lugbe Division arrested one Emmanuel Abraham also known as ‘Mosquito’, a wanted and notorious armed robber/cultist linked to various cases of armed robbery/culpable homicide and other cult activities within Lugbe and its environs.

Attributing the successful operation to what he described as “actionable intelligence”, the Police Commissioner said; “The suspect whose cohorts are presently in prison for robbery of one Mrs Abiodun Okunde, since 29th October, 2020 will equally be arraigned in court at the conclusion of investigation.”

From the Kabusa Division, CP Garba said Police operatives also went after and brought into custody one Adamu Idris, also known as Idi, a wanted and notorious kingpin responsible for series of kidnapping around Galadimawa/Apo, Lokogoma and Kabusa axis of the nation’s capital.

He explained that; “The suspect, who was sighted at Okada Junction, Kabusa, took to his heels, was given a hot chase and apprehended by police operatives”, adding that; “During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of a 5-man gang, whose other members are currently at large.”