‘They Collected Money and Used Hammer to Remove My Front teeth’: ‘One-Chance’ Criminality and Victimisation Experiences in Lagos Transport Corridors

Abstract

ABSTRACT “One-chance” criminality has become public transport threat in Lagos State where passengers are trapped through deceit, robbed, and victimized by individuals or groups pretending to offer public transportation services. Understanding the strategies and victimization experiences may help illuminate this phenomenon toward developing preventive cues and appropriate institutional response. This study, therefore examines “one-chance” strategies and the victimization experiences of passengers in Lagos public transportation corridors. The Routine Activities Theory (RAT) is used to explain the phenomenon using exploratory research design. The snowball technique was used to reach victims of one-chance robbery who responded to in-depth interview guide questions which probed into the strategies, victimization experiences and coping strategies. Findings show that timing, disguise/deception, taking unusual routes, tampering with the vehicle central lock, reworking the seatbelt, and winding up glasses are methods adopted by the one-chance robbery perpetrators to victimize. Physical assaults (beating with all kinds of weapons, sexual assaults, and forced pushing out of the vehicle at top speed which could lead to the victim’s disability or death) and loss of valuables (dispossession of jewelleries, monies, and phones). Participants increased vigilance before boarding, hailing a private taxi and instrumentalised religion for protection as coping strategies. The study provokes mapping of “one-chance” hot-spots by law enforcement authorities and routine adjustment for commuters.