By Datavox Media Team
Fear is spreading among residents of Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following a series of alarming incidents linked to suspected motorcycle-riding kidnapping syndicates who target unsuspecting commuters.
Several victims and eyewitnesses who spoke with our reporters described how these riders lure passengers, divert them from their destinations, and attempt abductions — often escaping with the aid of accomplices.
A victim, Hauwa Adams (not her real name), recounted her terrifying encounter on September 16.
“I was on my way from work that fateful evening when I boarded a motorcycle and informed the rider of my destination. ‘Your money is ₦300,’ the rider said and I didn’t argue because I needed to be home in good time,” she narrated.
However, things quickly turned sinister
“Few minutes into the ride the bike man diverted from my street in full speed and took a different direction. Upon realising that, I started shouting for the okada man to drop me but he refused. After several minutes of struggle, the bike fell and we both wounded ourselves on the ground,” she said.
Hauwa added that when bystanders questioned the rider about his intentions, he “pretended not to understand English,” while some people suspected to be his accomplices helped him escape. The incident happened along T-Junction Kogo Road through Bwari Old Road by Deeper Life Junction.
She sustained injuries and spent heavily on treatment, unable to resume work for about a week.
In a similar episode, another woman was reportedly picked up by a rider who diverted along the same route. Despite her screams, the rider refused to stop until passersby raised an alarm and chased him to a halt. As in Hauwa’s case, the rider feigned ignorance of English and fled with the help of unknown persons.
“This has been a usual occurrence around here,” an unidentified woman lamented, adding that some motorcycle operators have become notorious for taking unsuspecting passengers to unknown locations within Bwari Area Council.
Another resident shared his close call:
“This is not the first time. I remember closing from work one evening and around the Global Suite road en route Sabon Gari, I was accosted by some men in a jeep. Thanks to God for noticing them in time which aided my escape,” he said.
Residents say Bwari, once notorious for incessant kidnapping incidents, had experienced some calm before this resurgence of motorcycle-related abductions.
One resident recounted how a widow lost her two children recently near Polaris Bank at T-Junction, Bwari, after they suddenly went missing.
“Just recently, a widow of three children was again thrown into mourning when two of her children suddenly went missing around Polaris Bank at the T-junction in Bwari,” the resident said.
The FCT, long plagued by “one-chance” criminal syndicates operating in unbranded vehicles, now faces a new wave of similar crimes executed with motorcycles. These syndicates often pose as legitimate riders or passengers, only to kidnap, rob, or harm commuters once in transit.
Despite government promises to clamp down on these crimes, residents remain on edge. As at the time of filing this report, the police had yet to respond to inquiries regarding the incidents in Bwari.
Wider Context: Nigeria’s Growing Kidnap Economy
The surge in such crimes reflects a broader national trend. Nigeria’s kidnapping business has grown increasingly organized and lucrative, becoming a parallel “industry.”
Between July 2024 and June 2025, at least 4,722 people were abducted in 997 incidents nationwide, with kidnappers demanding ₦48 billion in ransom and receiving verified payments of ₦2.57 billion ($1.66 million), according to SBM Intelligence.
The report warned that ransom payments are eroding household savings, discouraging investment, and mirroring inflationary pressures as criminal groups inflate demands to match the weakened naira.
The North-West remains the most dangerous region, accounting for 42.6% of incidents and 62.2% of victims.
A National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report also revealed that Nigerians paid ₦2.23 trillion in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024, underscoring how pervasive the threat has become. The survey recorded 51.89 million crime incidents nationwide, with the North-West and North-Central regions bearing the highest tolls.
In Abuja, hotspots for “one-chance” operations — the car-based variant of these crimes — include Gwarimpa Expressway, Wuse, Berger Roundabout, Area 1, Central Area, Jabi, and Lugbe Axis.
Although no specific data exists for bike-related incidents, residents fear that the criminal strategy is simply evolving.
In June 2024, a Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) officer, Prisca Chikodi, was murdered by one-chance operators after boarding a vehicle at Area 1 Bus Stop. Her body was later found in Utako, without visible signs of gunshot or stabbing.
Similarly, in February 2025, two suspected one-chance operators were caught in Lugbe after a young woman raised the alarm mid-ride. She was rescued by bystanders who intercepted the vehicle and attacked the suspects.
Now, with motorcycles replacing unbranded cars, residents of Bwari and neighboring communities fear that the cycle of insecurity is far from over.
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