The Commercial Drivers Welfare Association (CDWA) has introduced new measures aimed at restoring public confidence in the transport system amid rising “one chance” attacks in Rivers State.
 
The association said it has commenced the comprehensive registration of commercial drivers and their vehicles to enable passengers and security agencies distinguish legitimate operators from criminals.

CDWA Chairman, Chris Ezeali, said detailed records of registered drivers and vehicles are now being maintained to improve accountability within the transport sector.
 
He also urged the police to respond promptly to distress calls and advised commuters to verify vehicle details before boarding.

The Rivers State Police Command has also intensified efforts to combat the menace.
 
The command reaffirmed the restriction on the operation of commercial tricycles from 10 p.m., describing the measure as part of broader efforts to curb one chance robberies, kidnappings and other violent crimes.

The police also banned the use of tinted glass and other coverings capable of concealing passengers in commercial tricycles. 
 
They prohibited the concealment of vehicle registration numbers and warned that unregistered commercial vehicles would be impounded, while offenders would face prosecution.
 
Residents were further advised to avoid boarding vehicles in isolated locations, particularly at night, refrain from entering vehicles with suspicious occupants, share travel details with relatives, avoid displaying valuables and always note vehicle registration numbers before embarking on any trip.

The renewed safety measures follow growing public concern over the increasing incidence of “one chance” attacks across the state.
 
One of the most tragic cases is that of Ihunda Nkiruka Jennifer, whose routine journey home ended in tragedy.
 
Jennifer left home on June 5 and boarded what appeared to be a commercial vehicle in Port Harcourt. When she failed to return, her family launched a frantic search.
 
Her sister, Jane Ogbu, a nurse appealed on social media for information, alleging that Jennifer had been abducted after boarding a vehicle believed to have been operated by suspected one chance criminals.

According to the family, Jennifer managed to throw her handbag out of the vehicle before she was driven away.
 
Days later, their worst fears were confirmed when her body was discovered at the mortuary of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).
 
Relatives who traced her movements said she was initially taken to a hospital along the Air Force Road axis.
 
The family alleged that Jennifer was abducted around Rumuosi before being thrown from a moving vehicle near Harmony Estate in Eliozu, where she sustained fatal head injuries in what they believe was an attempt to escape her captors.

Her death has become one of the most disturbing reminders of the growing danger confronting commuters in Rivers State.
 
Jennifer’s case mirrors the experiences of several survivors who have recounted similar ordeals.
 
Across social media, residents have shared accounts of being forced into vehicles by armed criminals who allegedly assaulted them, emptied their bank accounts through mobile banking applications, obtained digital loans in their names and abandoned them hours later.
 
One victim said her attackers drove her around Port Harcourt for nearly five hours after draining her business accounts and securing loans through financial applications.
 
Another survivor recalled boarding a commercial vehicle in broad daylight before regaining freedom several hours later after being robbed of his belongings.

He said the incident left him battling emotional trauma and high blood pressure.
 
In another reported case, a family said they were held captive for hours and assaulted after their abductors demanded as much as N12 million. They were eventually released after their captors realised they had no access to such funds.

The growing number of attacks has heightened public anxiety, with many residents now treating every commercial journey as a potential security risk.
 
A security analyst, Kinikanwo Kingsley, said that while the new measures could reduce opportunities for criminals, previous directives had often been undermined by weak enforcement, inadequate monitoring and the ability of criminal gangs to adapt their methods of operation.
 
Also, a transport analyst Jude Nnam also welcomed the CDWA registration initiative, saying it could improve the traceability of commercial vehicles if effectively implemented and integrated with law enforcement databases.
 
He warned, however, that unregistered operators outside recognised transport unions could continue to provide cover for criminal gangs unless enforcement is comprehensive.
 
According to Nnam, effective collaboration among transport unions, the police, community leaders and local security outfits is essential to tackling the menace.
 
He added that restoring public confidence in the transport system would require sustained intelligence gathering, visible policing, rapid emergency response and strict enforcement against illegal operators.