An angry mob on Wednesday severely beat a female suspect believed to be a member of a 'one chance' robbery gang in the Idogbo bypass area of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State.

According to reports, the suspect belongs to a criminal gang that specializes in robbing passengers in commercial buses. The gang typically poses as regular passengers or drivers to lure unsuspecting victims into their vehicles before robbing them of their belongings.

The incident occurred when one of their previous victims spotted the female suspect along the Benin-Sapele road axis of the bypass and raised an alarm. This alerted passersby and motorists who immediately gave chase to the suspects' vehicle.

An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, revealed that following the hot pursuit, the gang members abandoned their vehicle at the Idogbo bypass and fled in different directions. While other gang members escaped, the female suspect was apprehended and beaten severely by the mob.

"The beating of the female suspect attracted more angry people who later destroyed the suspects' abandoned vehicle and set it ablaze," the eyewitness stated.

Understanding 'One Chance' Operations

The eyewitness explained that 'one chance' is an organized crime perpetrated by groups working together. "They use a strategy of hailing unsuspecting passengers into their waiting vehicle. Once passengers are inside, the gang members instruct victims to comply, using coercion and violence," the source explained.

The criminals typically take victims' possessions, traumatize them, and may inflict physical harm during the robbery operations.

At the time of filing this report, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Yamu, had not responded to inquiries about the incident.

This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in the area and the public's frustration with criminal activities, though authorities continue to caution against mob justice.