Police Warn FCT Residents Against Boarding Unpainted Taxis

The FCT Police Command has cautioned residents to exercise caution when boarding unmarked taxis, commonly referred to as ‘kabu-kabu,’ to steer clear of falling prey to armed robbers, also known as ‘One Chance.’

The Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Mr. Haruna Garba, issued this advisory during a news briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, discussing the command’s accomplishments in combating crime and criminal activities.

“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.

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“It is risky to board an unpainted taxi otherwise known as ‘kabu-kabu’ as they may fall victim to these robbers known as One Chance,” he said.

Garba mentioned that during a crime prevention patrol in Abuja, police officers rescued a woman named Ebere Alice who had boarded a Golf taxi and was robbed by the driver and accomplices, who took her belongings before dropping her off.

He further explained that the police pursued the criminals, stopped the vehicle, and apprehended three suspects.

“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 the investigation,” he said.

Garba said that police operatives from Mabushi Division, acting on credible intelligence, also arrested one Samuel Vincent, a member of a robbery gang, who specializes in robbing unsuspecting taxi passengers of their belongings.

“The suspect was about to be lynched by an angry mob before Police intervention.

‘’The suspect, alongside three others currently at large, had picked up a woman (name unknown) from Karmo heading to Lugbe, and then diverted the vehicle to the 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. The suspect is cooperating with the police on how to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” he said.

The CP also explained that police operatives from Mabushi Division, acting on credible intelligence trailed and arrested four other suspected armed robbers.

He said that the suspects included Oluwatobi Precious (an ex-convict), Theophilus Elkana, Ibrahim Usman, and Umar Ibrahim, an ex-convict.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects robbed motorists of their phones while in a 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,” Garba said.