By Abiola Olawale
A staff member of the Ghanaian High Commission in Nigeria, Miss Freda Arnong, has passed away after sustaining injuries during a violent “one-chance” taxi robbery in Abuja, the federal Capital Territory.
According to reports, Arnong boarded a commercial taxi at Transcorp Junction after attending a house fellowship near the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Institute in Maitama around 7:00 p.m. on July 1.
But while not suspecting any foul play, the vehicle was reportedly being operated by a gang of “one-chance” robbers, notorious for posing as legitimate taxi drivers to defraud unsuspecting passengers.
The commercial taxi was said to have veered off its intended route shortly after departure, where she was robbed and tragically sustained severe injuries.
The development which was been confirmed by the Ghanaian High Commission in a press statement on Wednesday has triggered fresh wave of concern and fears in the FCT.
According to the statement, Arnong was later found unconscious and severely injured around 11 p.m. along Airport Road near Moshood Abiola Stadium by a good Samaritan, who rushed her to the National Hospital, Abuja.
Despite emergency medical efforts, she succumbed to the cold hands of death at 1:52 p.m. on July 7, six days after the attack.
Also, the brother of the victim, Arnold Anong, in a Facebook post shared how his sister was blindfolded, beaten, and tortured after the assailants failed to gain access to her bank accounts.
He said: “Despite every effort, my sister passed away at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 7. Her only ‘crime’ was living in a beautiful city plagued by a broken system. We must demand justice for Freda and for all victims of this evil.”
Mr Arnold called on the federal government to implement a real-time driver and vehicle authentication system to make public transportation safer in the FCT and it’s environs.
