Don’t accept free rides from strangers – FCT police commissioner warns women

The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, Miller Dantawaye, has warned residents, particularly women, against accepting free rides from strangers. 

Dantawaye gave the warning on Friday, January 9, 2025 during a courtesy and advocacy visit by a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association, including representatives of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, NBA Women Forum and Unity Bar, to the FCT Police Command headquarters.

The warning comes after Princess Nwamaka Ochigbo, a lawyer, and Chinemerem Chuwumeziemwere, a nurse at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, were k!lled by suspected one-chance criminals in Abuja. 

A statement by the FCT command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the CP urged residents to remain security-conscious, particularly when boarding commercial vehicles.

He advised residents, particularly women, to be cautious about the vehicles they use and to avoid accepting unsolicited lifts from unknown persons.

“The CP further called on residents of the FCT to remain security-conscious and vigilant, particularly when boarding commercial vehicles. He advised members of the public, especially ladies, to be cautious of the vehicles they board and to refrain from accepting free rides from strangers,” the statement read.

“He emphasised the importance of collective responsibility, timely information sharing, and public cooperation in preventing and dismantling “one-chance criminal operations across the Territory.”

While commiserating with the lawyers on the k!lling of their colleague, Ms Princess Ochigbo, the CP assured them that the command had launched discreet and extensive investigations into the incident, adding that efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible

“The Commissioner of Police commiserated with the delegation over the painful loss and assured them that the Command has commenced extensive and discreet investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident, with a firm commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators are identified, apprehended, and brought to justice,” the PPRO said. 

Meanwhile, Adeh, in a brief statement on Wednesday, confirmed that detectives had commenced work on the case.