How LASU Student Lost N952,000 to “One Chance” Robbers in Lagos

A 200-level student of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, has become the latest victim of “one chance” robbers, a notorious gang operating in Lagos under the guise of commercial bus drivers. Anita Amarachi Uchola, a Philosophy student, was attacked on Friday, along the Iyana Oba-LASU road. The armed robbers not only assaulted her but also hacked her bank accounts, stealing a total of N912,000.

The incident took place while Anita was on her way to make deliveries for her business, a side hustle she manages alongside her studies. Anita recounted that she left school around noon after visiting her faculty office to resolve some registration issues. Due to a hike in transportation fares, she opted for a commercial bus, unaware that it was operated by a criminal gang.

Shortly after boarding, Anita realized something was amiss. Despite reaching her intended stop, her repeated requests for the bus to halt were ignored by both the driver and the passengers, whom she later discovered were part of the gang. In an attempt to cry for help, she was struck in the head with the butt of a gun by one of the robbers.

Anita described the terrifying moment when an elderly woman sitting beside her, initially believed to be a passenger, forcibly stripped her of her belongings. Another gang member, posing as the bus conductor, threatened her with a gun, forcing her to hand over her phone, passwords, and other personal details.

The ordeal reached a violent peak when the robbers threw her off the moving bus. Fortunately, the road was not busy, and she was not hit by any oncoming vehicles. Anita was eventually assisted by a commercial motorcycle (okada) rider who gave her N500 for transportation.

In the aftermath of the attack, Anita struggled to block her phone line, as she did not have her National Identification Number (NIN) on her at the time. However, with the help of passersby, she made her way to FESTAC, where she successfully blocked her lines and bank accounts. Unfortunately, by the time her phone number was restored, the robbers had drained her accounts.

According to Anita, the criminals transferred N640,000 from her savings account on PiggyVest and another N312,000 from her Access Bank account. They also took control of her social media accounts and iCloud, compounding her losses.

Anita is currently receiving medical treatment for the injuries she sustained during the attack, which has left her with impaired vision. She was admitted to a local hospital where doctors are monitoring her physical and mental recovery.

The incident has been reported to the FESTAC Town Police Station. While the police have responded to her complaint, they have yet to trace the recipients of the stolen funds.