A 23-year-old Abuja resident, Grace Godwin, tragically lost her life after reportedly falling into the hands of a suspected “one-chance” gang—a group of criminals notorious for using public transport as a cover to rob or abduct commuters.
Godwin, who was employed at a fuel station in Mabushi, was discovered unconscious along a roadside near Iya Abubakar Street in the early hours of Saturday, July 12, 2025. Local police from the Jabi Division were called to the scene shortly after 6:00 a.m. and transported her to the National Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
Authorities suspect that the young woman entered a commercial vehicle around 8:53 p.m. the previous night in Mabushi. That vehicle is believed to have been operated by a criminal group posing as legitimate transporters. A call reportedly came through to her relatives just before midnight—around 11:56 p.m.—from her captors, who demanded a ransom for her release.
Her body was later transferred to the hospital mortuary for examination. Her family has been informed and has confirmed her identity.
Police say a full investigation is underway and that efforts are intensifying to track down the individuals behind the crime. Officers have classified the case as a suspected abduction followed by homicide and are treating it as a high-priority matter.
The capital city has seen a disturbing spike in incidents involving “one-chance” gangs. These syndicates lure unsuspecting passengers into vehicles only to rob or assault them, sometimes resulting in fatalities.
Godwin’s death bears similarities to another recent case involving a foreign national. On July 1, Freda Arnong, a Ghanaian staff member at the Ghana High Commission in Abuja, became a victim of a similar attack. After leaving a religious gathering, she entered a cab near the CBN Institute in Maitama. The vehicle turned out to be operated by criminals who blindfolded her, beat her, and attempted to gain access to her mobile banking.
Later that night, Arnong was thrown from the moving car near the Moshood Abiola Stadium. A passerby rushed her to the National Hospital, where she remained in critical condition until she died six days later, on July 7.
With both incidents occurring within two weeks of each other, fears are growing over deteriorating public safety in Abuja. Local law enforcement has promised increased vigilance, but residents are being urged to avoid boarding unmarked or unofficial vehicles, particularly at night.