How Two ‘One-Chance’ Robbers Were Beaten to Death, Set Ablaze in Abuja

An angry mob killed two men along the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after accusing them of being ‘one-chance’ robbers. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2025, when the suspects, operating a commercial vehicle, were alleged to have robbed a woman traveling from the Gosa area to the city and thrown her out of the moving car.

Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle behind them narrowly avoided running over the woman. The driver of that vehicle immediately began chasing the suspects while honking to alert other road users. As the pursuit continued, more motorists and bystanders joined in. The chase ended at ACO Estate Junction when another motorist blocked the suspects’ vehicle as they attempted a U-turn back toward Gosa.

Realizing their escape route was cut off, the suspects abandoned their vehicle and tried to flee on foot. However, the growing mob quickly apprehended them. One of the suspects was caught first, beaten severely, and then set ablaze. The second suspect was thrown into a roadside gutter, where he remained motionless, leading many to assume he was dead.

An eyewitness recording the incident later realized the second suspect was still alive. He was questioned by the crowd but refused to reveal his name, only confirming he was from Ogun State and of Yoruba ethnicity. As members of the mob realized he was still alive, the aggression resumed. They poured fuel on him, attempting to set him on fire as they had done with the first suspect.

The suspect, severely weakened from the beating, managed to stagger out of the gutter and ran toward a nearby church, Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA), seemingly seeking refuge. However, someone in the crowd shouted that he should not be killed within the church premises. The mob then dragged him away to another property nearby, where they continued their assault, pelting him with stones until he succumbed to his injuries.

Following the killings, the angry crowd also set the suspects’ vehicle ablaze.