Grace Effiong
Former Big Brother Naija housemate Leo Da Silva has clashed with the Nigeria Police Force over strategies to address escalating “one chance” robberies—a notorious scam where unsuspecting commuters are attacked in buses, particularly in urban centers.
Expressing outrage in a viral social media post, Leo condemned the persistent threat of these criminals and challenged the efficiency of police checkpoints. He argued that law enforcement should concentrate efforts on bus terminals, the primary hotspots for these syndicates.
“What angers me more than anything is ‘one chance’—it’s like a scaled-down version of kidnapping. Rather than police wasting time at meaningless roadblocks, why not station officers at major bus stops, track these criminals, and put an end to their operations?” he wrote.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Force PRO, countered by warning against heavy-handed tactics that could inconvenience civilians.
“Complaints about police harassment would quickly follow if officers flooded bus stops. There are more intelligent approaches.”
Hundeyin proposed enhancing surveillance infrastructure as a sustainable solution.
“A network of round-the-clock CCTV cameras at bus stops would be invaluable. While installation isn’t our responsibility, it would revolutionize our investigative capabilities.”
The BBNaija star later refined his argument, stressing the need for tactical resource allocation.
“Your initial reply misses the point—whether profiling affects me or not, citizens deserve safety. Why not redirect checkpoint personnel to actually hunt down these gangs? Prioritize this in Lagos and Abuja, where these crimes thrive.”
The exchange underscores growing public dissatisfaction with policing methods amid rising urban security challenges.
