Alarming Rise of ‘One Chance’ Robberies in Alapere: Aboniki Blinding Tactics Unveiled

In a disturbing twist to the rising insecurity plaguing Lagos State, ‘One Chance’ robbers have adopted a new method of blinding their victims using the intensely hot balm, Aboniki, in the Alapere axis.

Victims who fell prey to these assailants shared their harrowing ordeals while receiving medical attention at a Lagos hospital, shedding light on the dangerous tactics employed by the criminals.

One victim, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted a traumatic incident that occurred on January 23. The victim detailed the morning commute from Alapere Estate to Ajah, boarding a seemingly ordinary Sienna bus.

The victim noticed the unusual calmness within the vehicle, with only eight passengers, including two ladies, occupying the back seats. Suddenly, the driver diverted from the usual route towards Oshodi, a move that triggered a coordinated attack.

The attackers swiftly immobilized the victims, with one assailant squeezing the victim’s neck and another ruthlessly striking her knee with a hammer. Amid the assault, valuables, including bags, phones, and laptops, were forcefully seized.

The victim revealed the chilling moment when Aboniki, a fiery balm, was applied to her eyes, causing temporary blindness. The assailants went further to remove earrings and issued threats of rape while the vehicle was in motion.

Desperation led the victim to plead for money by the roadside after being forcefully ejected from the vehicle. Subsequently, a visit to the Ogudu Police Station revealed the frequency of such incidents in the Ogudu, Alapere area, with authorities struggling to dissuade commuters from boarding private cars.

Another victim, a doctor who chose to remain anonymous, shared a similar encounter from December 2023. Boarding a seemingly innocent mini-bus, the doctor unwittingly found herself amidst robbers armed with a Point of Sale (PoS) machine. Substantial sums were withdrawn from her accounts during the ordeal.

These incidents underscore the urgent need for heightened awareness and vigilance among Lagos residents as a new wave of criminal gangs inflicts fear and financial losses in the bustling metropolis.