A tragic incident unfolded on Monday along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway in the nation’s capital, Abuja, leaving four people dead, including a husband and wife, after a violent struggle inside a moving vehicle led to a fatal accident.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command confirmed the incident, which occurred under the Mabushi underbridge, a busy area that connects commuters to several parts of the city.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, gave details in a press statement on Tuesday. She explained that the crash happened when a grey Toyota Highlander SUV, with registration number ABJ 206 EC, was hijacked by three suspected street miscreants, commonly referred to as *agberos*, near Berger Junction, Utako.
The SUV was being driven by one Emeka Ehekweme, who was with his wife at the time. According to the police, the suspects forcefully entered the moving vehicle, leading to a violent struggle for control of the steering wheel.
“As a result of the struggle, the driver lost control of the vehicle. It veered off the road, hit a parked Mazda car, and somersaulted into the concrete pillar of the Mabushi underbridge,” SP Adeh said.
Tragically, Mr. Ehekweme, his wife, and two of the three suspects died on the spot. They were confirmed dead on arrival at the National Hospital, Abuja. The third suspect is said to be receiving treatment in hospital.
The driver of the parked Mazda vehicle, one Suleman Mohammed, escaped with minor injuries and did not require emergency medical attention, police said.
The disturbing nature of the incident has raised concerns about public safety and the activities of street urchins in the Federal Capital Territory, especially around major junctions and highways. Agberos are often seen around busy traffic areas, engaging in extortion, harassment, and at times, violent attacks on drivers and commuters.
Residents say Berger Junction and surrounding areas have long been plagued by the activities of such individuals, who are often left unchecked despite multiple complaints to authorities.
“This is not the first time something like this is happening around here,” said a commercial driver who plies the Utako–Wuse route. “We’ve been crying out to the police to clear these agberos from the road, but nothing has changed.”
SP Adeh assured the public that investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident, including the identities of the assailants and whether more people may have been involved in the crime.
“We will communicate further developments in due course,” she said.
The FCT Police Command also used the opportunity to urge residents to be vigilant, avoid giving lifts to strangers, and report suspicious activities around known trouble spots such as Berger Junction and other densely populated transport hubs.
As Abuja continues to grow in population and traffic congestion worsens, authorities are under increasing pressure to address the rising cases of insecurity on the roads—especially crimes linked to street gangs and unauthorised transport touts.
The tragic death of Mr. Ehekweme and his wife has sparked mourning in their community, with many calling on the government to take stronger action against the menace of roadside criminals.
