A Port Harcourt resident, Divine Favour, has recounted how she allegedly escaped suspected “one-chance” operators while returning home from work on Saturday, adding to growing concerns over the rising cases of the crime in Rivers State.
According to Favour, the incident occurred after she boarded a commercial taxi at Air Force Junction en route to GRA.
She said she was responding to birthday messages on her phone when she suddenly became suspicious of the occupants of the vehicle.
“I entered the taxi at Air Force going to GRA. As the taxi was moving, I felt a familiar feeling and immediately dropped my phone. I looked around in the taxi and noticed it was the driver, a man beside him in front, me and an old woman at the back,” she recounted.
Favour alleged that the elderly woman repeatedly tried to engage her in conversation, but she ignored the attempts and subsequently asked the driver to stop at Rumuola so she could alight.
“As I got down, the old lady bent her head to look at me and said in Ikwerre, ‘You’re lucky.’ As they drove off, the man in front turned and gave me waka.”
The 26-year-old said the encounter left her visibly shaken.
“I just burst into tears because my entire body was shaking. I’m home now. Please let’s be really careful. This is like my seventh one chance experience and you never get used to it, I swear,’ she said.
Expressing frustration over what she described as the government’s response to the persistent incidents, Favour called for stronger action against perpetrators.
“The government should take the lives of their citizens seriously. Every security agency is just reluctant to our cries concerning this one chance, and that’s what’s giving these people the mind to keep doing this. Once arrested, they should not be granted bail,” Favour stated.
She also reflected on her repeated encounters with suspected “one-chance” operators.
“Just imagine me at 26, and I’ve entered one chance seven times. The first experience, it was God that saved me from them because I was already at the brink of death.”
Appealing directly to the Rivers State Government, she said:
“Please, our Rivers Government, try to value your citizens. It’s not fair that for months now we have been posting and crying about this one chance and not one comment has come from the Government House concerning it.”
Her experience comes amid growing public concern over the increasing reports of suspected “one chance” robberies across Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State.
Residents have continued to urge the Rivers State Government and security agencies to take decisive steps to address the menace, with some planning a peaceful walk to draw attention to the situation and demand urgent intervention.
