“We Never Saw Agberos or Heard of One Chance Until Tinubu, Wike Took Over” — Abuja Resident Cries Out Over Insecurity, Thuggery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abuja residents have cried out over rising insecurity in the nation’s capital, blaming Bola Tinubu and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, for the growing presence of street thugs, known locally as Agberos, and the persistence of “one chance” robberies.

The outcry intensified after an X user, @VivianRora, declared: “Since I’ve lived in Abuja for nearly a decade, I never saw Agberos or heard of One Chance stories, until that man took over.”

Just yesterday, reports emerged that residents of Nyanya and Mararaba raised alarm over the increasing number of Agberos who have taken over bus stops.

Commuters said they were being harassed and extorted daily by the touts.

Many lamented that such street thug activity once associated mainly with Lagos has now crept into Abuja under the Tinubu leadership.

Drivers also complained that the Agberos impose illegal levies on them, worsening the burden of transportation costs.

The fresh wave of complaints quickly went viral online. While some residents echoed that insecurity had worsened under Tinubu and Wike, others countered the claim, insisting that “one chance” has been an old menace in Abuja.

“One chance is a thing in Abuja. Don’t let us lie, please,” wrote @omolalomi, while @ozave2000 asserted, “Abuja is like the headquarter of one chance.”

Another user, @bankiecute, added: “One chance has been in Abuja forever… and I’ve lived in Abuja for over a decade.”

Personal testimonies also surfaced, painting a grim picture of fear and survival. X user @demozhigh recounted being a victim in 2013: “I was a victim of one Chance in Abuja on August 5, 2013… had a cold pistol on ma head about 6:30am on a Sunday.”

Similarly, @iamebelechukwu highlighted hotspots such as Berger, Utako, Kubwa, Mabuchi, Area 1, and Lugbe. He noted that the crime was rife between 2011 and 2017 during his stay in the capital city.

A 2025 HumAngle investigation documented over 100 incidents of one chance in Abuja since 2015. The report linked the trend to worsening economic hardship and weak transport regulation.

Meanwhile, police have made arrests including the August 2025 capture of a Mpape gang but skepticism remains among residents who insist insecurity has worsened in the past year.

Critics like @KeyzAbraham pushed back on politicizing the issue, saying: “Agbero and One Chance were terrorizing people in Abuja during the Buhari regime.” He argued that the menace was not new but had only become more visible.

But with rising cases of mob justice against suspects, extortion at bus stops, and persistent reports of violence, the online debate has become a collective cry for urgent reforms.

Residents are demanding better security patrols, improved lighting, and tighter regulation of commercial transport to restore safety in Nigeria’s capital.