How I escaped from ‘one chance’

Fraud seems to be the order of the day, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Perpetrators of this crime ply their illicit trade with impunity as law enforcement agencies seem helpless. Many victims of this ill have different ugly stories to tell; that is, those who are alive to recount their ordeal. Many may not be as fortunate as I was.
I had just closed for the day and went to the roadside where I would board a cab to Berger junction. After a few minutes of waiting, a cab painted green and white stopped in front of me. I was subsequently ushered in when I innocently informed the driver of my destination. The other occupants of the vehicle were two men and a lady. One of the men sat in front while the other was at the back with the lady.
 As we moved some distance from the bus-stop, the young man at the back quickly informed the driver that he wanted to “drop,” asking him to open the boot so he could pick up his box.  When he paid the driver with a N200 note, he (the driver) inquired of the content of the box. He replied that the carton contained some money (hard currency) he had stolen from his boss in Niger State. He added that there was a charm he was scared of touching; hence he was taking the box to his sister for onward movement to a prayer house, where the charm would be rendered ineffective.
At this juncture, the driver agreed to take him to the prayer house only if he would agree to share the money with everybody in the cab. He also threatened to take the self-acclaimed thief to the nearest office of any security agency if he did not agree with that condition.  The young man agreed. At that point, I sensed that something was wrong, but I kept quiet as the drama kept unfolding.
I spoke up when the driver made a u-turn to a route that was not leading to my destination. But he quickly pleaded with me to be patient, adding that they would not stay long at the prayer house. He also promised that I would share in the money if I went with them. I said I was not interested in the money and insisted that I wanted to get down from the cab.
When I finally got down, I heaved a sigh of relief and thanked God. It is hoped that Abuja residents would learn from this and other experiences. Security agencies and law-abiding cab owners should make concerted efforts to identify and bring these bad eggs of the society to book. It is quite unfortunate that the so-called painted taxis are used to perpetrate this evil.
The Transport Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) should regularly update its database and ensure that all painted cabs are registered. It is time to make life better for Nigerians.


Sunday Trust