“One Chance” Bus in Nigeria: How a Man Shared His Shocking Story with Me on the Ride
A real-life experience from Nigeria – recorded directly on a public bus.
When mistrust becomes a matter of survival
I was sitting in an ordinary minibus in Nigeria, somewhere between everyday life and adventure, when a man suddenly got on and began telling me his story. Not out of small talk. But from a deep impulse — because, as he said, he would never have entered this bus if he hadn’t seen me — a white woman — already sitting inside. My presence alone gave him a sense of safety.
Not even the police officer in the front seat next to the driver convinced him. “He could be disguised,” the man said. In Nigeria, trust in uniforms is often fragile. Too many stories of corruption and deception leave little room for innocence.
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What is a “One Chance” bus?
In Nigeria, the term “One Chance” bus is infamous. These are vehicles that look like regular public transport at first glance — but in reality, they are traps. Passengers are robbed, kidnapped, or extorted. And this can happen just as easily during the day as at night.
The man sitting across from me shared his own experience. Around two years ago, he entered such a bus. There were four men and one woman on board — all five worked together. Two of them had guns. They didn’t take him to a hidden place — they robbed him right there in the bus, then drove to the nearest ATM where he was forced to withdraw all his money. The attackers had covered their faces. They took everything he had.
While we were talking, a woman a few rows back joined the conversation. She, too, had been robbed on that same road in a “One Chance” incident. They had stolen 2.5 million naira from her.
My own uneasy feeling
I once had a moment I still can’t clearly define. I sat next to the driver in a bus but felt an uneasy, almost instinctive discomfort. The way the men on board tried to persuade me felt unnatural, even forced. I got off — and chose another bus.
Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe it was a gut feeling that protected me. Because in Nigeria, there are no guarantees. No clear rules. No safe time of day. Criminals adapt. They don’t follow patterns — and sometimes, your own intuition is your only lifeline.
Nigeria: Between danger and warmth
Nigeria is a country of extremes. Danger and joy often lie only a few steps apart. While some roads may feel unsafe, there are also incredibly moving, warm, and beautiful moments. On this blog, I don’t want to romanticize — but I also won’t demonize. This is the reality as it is. Raw. Direct. And honest.
📹 Watch the video with the recorded conversation here — filmed right inside the bus. The images and footage are symbolic; the voices are real:
