The Federal Capital Territory Police Command says it has rescued two suspected “one chance” robbers from a violent mob in the Utako area, while issuing a stern warning to residents against the practice of “jungle justice.”
‘One chance’ is commonly used in Nigeria to refer to a form of organised robbery where criminals pose as commercial drivers and passengers to lure victims into a vehicle before robbing, assaulting, or kidnapping them.
According to a statement on Friday by its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the intervention occurred on Thursday following a distress call received by the Utako Police Division at approximately 11:00 AM.
Police operatives reportedly arrived at the scene to find an irate crowd assaulting two male suspects, identified as Kefas Akaye and Uya Ugwowere, who were successfully extracted from the mob before the situation turned fatal.
The statement partly read, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the rescued suspects are members of a four-man gang involved in “one chance” robbery operations within the Federal Capital Territory.
“Further investigations revealed that they come into the FCT from Uke, Nasarawa State, to perpetrate their criminal activities.
“Two other members of the gang, identified simply as Mary and Aisha (surnames yet to be confirmed), had escaped the scene during the commotion.”
Adeh noted that while investigations are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing gang members, the command strongly condemns all acts of jungle justice and mob violence.
She wrote, “The Command emphasises that the assault or lynching of suspects not only endangers innocent lives but also compromises investigations by destroying critical evidence and hindering the identification and arrest of accomplices.
“Such unlawful actions ultimately undermine the justice process and deny victims and society the benefits of lawful prosecution and possible restitution of stolen property.”
The FCT Police Command urged the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to instead report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
PUNCH reported earlier in January that the FCT Police Command similarly arrested three suspects in connection with the killing of a legal practitioner, Chigbo Princess, allegedly linked to “one-chance” armed robbery operations in Abuja.
The body of Chigbo was said to have been found on the Kubwa Expressway, with her bag containing her identity card and other personal belongings recovered a few metres from the body.
