Ghanaian Woman Killed By ‘One-Chance’ Robbers In Abuja

Tragedy struck in Nigeria’s capital city as Miss Freda Arnong, a Ghanaian woman who had lived and worked in Abuja for nearly two decades, died on Sunday, July 7, 2025, from injuries sustained during a brutal attack by suspected “one-chance” robbers.

Freda, aged in her late 30s, was reportedly abducted on July 1 after leaving a house fellowship near the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Institute in Maitama around 7:00 p.m. According to her brother, Arnong Arnong, she boarded a commercial taxi heading toward her residence on Pope John Paul Street, along the Transcorp Hilton axis unaware that the vehicle was operated by a criminal syndicate.

Shortly after entering the vehicle, Freda was blindfolded, beaten mercilessly, and threatened by the gang, who demanded access to her phone and bank applications. Her brother explained that Freda had lost her ATM card weeks earlier and hadn’t replaced it. She was also not well-versed in using mobile banking apps.

Despite her pleas and even offering to call her employer to transfer the ₦10 million the attackers demanded, they refused. The assailants reportedly threatened to kill her and sell her body parts. Eventually, at around 11:00 p.m., they threw her out of the moving car near Moshood Abiola Stadium, leaving her battered and helpless on the roadside.

Freda, bleeding and in shock, attempted to flag down motorists but was ignored for hours until a local vigilante group found her and rushed her to the National Hospital, Abuja.

Medical scans revealed she had suffered broken ribs, lacerated lungs, internal bleeding, kidney damage, and severe trauma to her heart and eyes. After several days of fighting for her life, Freda succumbed to her injuries in the early hours of July 7.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expressed deep grief over Freda’s death and condemned the continued operation of “one-chance” syndicates in Abuja. In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group blamed systemic failure, lack of security infrastructure, and political apathy for the rampant rise in violent crimes within the capital.

“This God-fearing, generous soul was known to us at HURIWA since our inception 18 years ago. Her only ‘crime’ was living in a city plagued by a broken system,” Onwubiko said.

HURIWA called for the urgent implementation of a technology-driven commuter safety system, including vehicle and driver verification platforms, functional CCTV networks, and rapid-response security teams across the FCT.

“Installing surveillance cameras is more urgent than building flyovers. If our leaders had invested in commuter safety, Freda might still be alive,” the statement read.

The organisation also demanded swift justice for Freda and all other victims, urging the police, DSS, and military to intensify efforts to dismantle one-chance gangs that have terrorized residents for years.

“Freda must not die in vain. Her killers must be hunted, prosecuted, and jailed. Too many families are grieving in silence. We must demand change.”

As of press time, the FCT Police Command has not issued a formal statement on the incident. Freda’s death has once again thrown a spotlight on the alarming insecurity in Nigeria’s capital and the urgent need for systemic reform.