With a voice laced with fear and trepidation, a victim of tricksters popularly called one-chance has recounted her ordeal from her handlers who only left her empty after robbing her of her personal possessions.
According to the victim, Rosemary Njuba, she lost personal belongings such as a handbag containing N6, 000, her makeup bag, cell phone and few other undisclosed effects.
She stated that as she set out after close of work on Monday, nothing suggested anything sinister ahead of her.
“I joined other passengers in Keke from Eliozu to Air Force junction around 6:30pm.
“I didn’t know that all four in the tricycle except one wasn’t a member of the syndicate.
“I we got to the middle of the journey, the Keke driver was talking to himself, ‘I don’t know how I will get fuel around here,’ while his Keke was slowing down. And suddenly, the driver asked us to pay out fares. As I was about to bring out money another passenger on my right just seized me and warned me not to shout or resist. He snatched my bag with everything inside and pushed me out, while another innocent boy escaped by picking race across the road.
“passers-by saw us and ran, not knowing what to do. It was a middle aged woman who noticed from distance that I was alone and crying.
“She asked what the problem was and pitied my condition by gibing me N500 for my transportation home,” said Rosemary.
When asked what she was going to do about loss of her belongings, she said that she only succeeded in blocking her phone line to safe her personal information.
Another Keke passenger who plies the area daily, Madam Sandra corroborated Rosemary story.
She lamented high rate of Keke related crimes in the area. According to her, both men and women take advantage of unsuspecting passengers, calling on the police to see intensive patrol and surveillance around the area.
“We have the good and bad ones among Keke riders, but you will get to know who is who either early in the morning or evening hours.
She cautioned passengers especially young ladies she described as vulnerable to avoid moving alone and go about their movements at reasonable hours.
