Young Woman Found Dead in Abuja After Suspected ‘One-Chance’ Abduction
Tragedy struck in Nigeria’s capital city as a young woman identified as Grace Godwin was found dead in Abuja, a day after she was reportedly abducted in a suspected “one-chance” robbery attack. The 23-year-old, who worked as a fuel station attendant, was returning home from work on Friday, July 11, when she fell into the hands of criminal syndicate members operating under the guise of commercial transporters.
Her lifeless body was discovered the following morning on Abubakar Street, off Alex Ekwueme Way in the Jabi district of Abuja. According to local sources, Grace’s abductors contacted her family shortly after her disappearance and demanded a ransom of ₦1 million. It remains unclear whether the ransom was paid or negotiations failed, but her body was eventually dumped by the roadside.
The tragic incident has drawn widespread grief and condemnation. The Voice of Apa and Agatu Initiative for Development, a socio-cultural organisation representing her local government area, confirmed her identity and condemned the circumstances surrounding her death. The group’s president, Comrade Adanu Andrew, described Grace as a disciplined and hardworking woman from Ekaida in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State. He also debunked social media rumours, suggesting she had gone out for a hookup, labelling such speculation as false and damaging to her memory.
The killing of Grace is the latest in a growing number of violent incidents attributed to “one-chance” gangs in Abuja. These criminal networks operate by posing as legitimate transporters, luring unsuspecting commuters into vehicles before robbing, assaulting, or even killing them. Victims are often forced to surrender their bank cards, phones, or cash, and in severe cases, are physically harmed or thrown out of moving vehicles.
Just last month, a woman named Khadija Salisu narrowly escaped death after she was pushed out of a moving car in the Asokoro area. Passersby and emergency responders intervened, saving her life. Earlier this year, another woman, Kadoon Louisa Lornumbe, was not as fortunate. Her body was found dumped by the roadside near Mpape Junction, with signs pointing to a similarly orchestrated attack by one-chance operators.
Human rights advocates have renewed calls for serious action. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expressed outrage over the deteriorating security situation in Abuja. The group’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated that the capital city has become a danger zone, with residents increasingly at the mercy of criminal elements. Onwubiko urged the federal government and the police to prioritize the deployment of surveillance technologies, including CCTV cameras, GPS vehicle tracking, and instant identity verification systems for commercial vehicles and their drivers.
He also criticised the government’s emphasis on constructing infrastructure projects such as flyovers while failing to address the fundamental issue of urban safety. “We can not be building bridges while citizens are being abducted and murdered in broad daylight,” Onwubiko said.
As the nation mourns another life lost to insecurity, there is a rising demand for concrete and sustained action to dismantle these criminal networks and restore a sense of safety to commuters in the Federal Capital Territory, Grace Godwin’s death serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to confront the threat of one-chance crimes that continue to haunt Abuja’s streets.
