The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and former Big Brother Naija star, Leo Da Silva, have engaged in a public exchange over the most effective strategy to combat “one chance” operators—criminals accused of running street-level scams and kidnappings in major Nigerian cities.
The debate began on Sunday after Leo Da Silva took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent his frustration over the persistence of the crime, which he described as “mini kidnapping” and “mini banditry.” He questioned the effectiveness of routine police checkpoints, arguing that officers would be better deployed at bus stops where such crimes are more likely to occur.
“Nothing pisses me off than ‘one chance’. It’s like mini kidnapping, mini banditry. Instead of police mounting useless checkpoints to greet us, why not go to bus stops and investigate these one-chance operators and grab all of them??” he wrote.
The post quickly gained traction and drew a response from the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who cautioned against enforcement methods that could lead to harassment of commuters. Hundeyin stressed the need for a balance between security and citizens’ rights.
“I am sure you would come back to complain of police harassment, profiling and unnecessary delays at the bus stops. There are smarter ways,” he said.
He further proposed the adoption of technology, suggesting 24/7 CCTV surveillance at bus stops as a more effective and less intrusive solution, noting that while installation is not the police’s responsibility, it would significantly aid law enforcement.
In a follow-up response, Leo Da Silva clarified that his comments were aimed at prioritising manpower toward direct crime-fighting rather than maintaining traditional checkpoints. He insisted that the issue of “one chance” operators requires focused attention, especially in Abuja and Lagos.
“Instead of deploying unnecessary checkpoints, why not suggest to the force that one chance operators must be caught. Use that manpower to sort that. Abuja and Lagos, especially,” he stated.
The online exchange has since sparked widespread discussion, with many Nigerians echoing calls for intelligence-led and hotspot-focused policing that targets criminals while minimising inconvenience to law-abiding citizens.