The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has announced the arrest of Chukwudi Ezirike, a wanted ‘one chance’ kingpin who was allegedly causing fear along the Kubwa/Zuba highway.
‘One chance’ is commonly used in Nigeria to refer to a robbery that takes place when a group of criminals picks up passengers waiting for a taxi or bus, to rob or defraud them.
One of the recent victims of a ‘one chance,’ Greatness Olorunfemi, was reportedly planning to relocate to the United States to further her studies by earning a PhD in Microbiology before she was killed.
Speaking to journalists at the command’s headquarters on Friday, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Haruna Garba noted that Ezirike’s operational vehicle, a blue Golf 3 car with Reg. No. KWL 536 RZ was also recovered by the police.
He further noted that most of the vehicles recovered over such crimes had tinted glasses on them, adding that during a police search, an axe, a cutlass, and one knife suspected to be used in carrying out criminal activities were recovered from the vehicles, adding that three of the suspects arrested in relation to such incidents are under investigation.
Garba said, “On October 11, 2023, acting on credible intelligence, police operatives from Byazhin Division trailed and arrested one Chukwudi Ernest Ezirike, a wanted ‘one-chance’ kingpin terrorising Kubwa/Zuba expressway.
“His operational vehicle, a Golf 3 car with Reg. No. KWL 536 RZ blue in colour was recovered. He is assisting the police to arrest his accomplice in the same ‘one-chance’ activities. He will be charged in court at the conclusion of the investigation.
“In a related development, the command’s newly created Anti-One Chance Squad to curb the menace of robbery (one-chance) activities within the FCT recovered ten (10) vehicles suspected to be used for one-chance activities within the FCT.
“Most of the vehicles recovered have tinted glasses on them. During a search, an axe, a cutlass, and one knife ostensibly for use in carrying out their criminal activities were recovered from the vehicles. Three (3) of the suspects at hand are under investigation.
“Similarly on 11/09/2023, the FCT Police Command Ant-Kidnapping Unit trailed and arrested a notorious kidnapper by the name one Salisu Abdulahi aka Gwaska. During the encounter, one of the gang members by the name Baba Dan Tsoho was shot dead by the police, while others fled.
“Aside from taking an active part in kidnapping activities, he is also an informant and food supplier to his master by name Badume. Badume is a kidnap kingpin who is responsible for kidnapping activities at Kaduna, Nasarawa States extending to Bwari and Mpape in the FCT. He is assisting the police to arrest other gang members.”
