NBA Sounds Alarm Over Deadly ‘One-Chance’ Robberies in Abuja, Urges Wike, Police to Act Swiftly

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Chapter, has issued a stark warning about the alarming resurgence of “one-chance” robberies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), describing the situation as deeply disturbing and a direct threat to residents’ safety.

In a media briefing on Friday, NBA Abuja Chapter Chairman Okechukwu Emelieze called on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the Nigeria Police Force to urgently review and strengthen security strategies, particularly along major transport routes and for commuters relying on commercial vehicles.

The urgent plea comes in the wake of two tragic killings linked to the notorious criminal scheme, where suspects posing as legitimate transport operators lure unsuspecting passengers, rob them, assault them, or worse.

The first victim, Mediatrix Chigbo (also referred to as Princess Chigbo Mediatrix), a respected lawyer and former Treasurer of the NBA Abuja Branch, left her home for work on January 6, 2026, but never returned.

Her body was discovered the following day, January 7, along the Kubwa Expressway. Reports indicate she may have been abducted, tortured, and dumped by the roadside after criminals demanded a ransom.

Here are some images illustrating the growing concern and calls for action from legal professionals in Abuja:

On the same day Chigbo’s body was found, the remains of nurse Chinemerem Chukwumeziem (also spelled Chuwumeziem), who worked at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, were recovered at another location in the capital. She had completed her afternoon shift on January 3, boarded a commercial vehicle home, but fell victim to the same criminal network.

These back-to-back incidents have heightened public fear, with many residents now viewing daily commutes as a potential life-threatening gamble.

Here are visual representations of Abuja’s urban landscape, where such risks are increasingly reported along busy roads and transport hubs:

A delegation from the NBA Abuja Chapter visited the FCT Police Command headquarters to demand decisive action. Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye assured the group that investigations are ongoing and perpetrators will face justice. He urged residents to exercise caution, especially when hailing commercial vehicles.

However, former NBA leaders and other groups, including the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), have questioned the effectiveness of current measures and called for intensified intelligence operations, increased patrols, and a possible declaration of a security emergency in high-risk areas.

The NBA emphasized that these were not isolated cases but part of a broader pattern turning Abuja — the nation’s seat of power — into a city gripped by fear.

As investigations continue, the deaths of these two professionals serve as a somber reminder of the urgent need for coordinated, visible security efforts to restore confidence and protect lives in the FCT.