Federal Capital Territory police command has arrested three suspects believed to be part of a one-chance robbery gang linked to the killing of an Abuja-based lawyer, Nwamaka Chigbo.
Gatekeepers News reports that Chigbo, a former treasurer of FCT branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, was found dead by the roadside on January 5 after she was attacked shortly after boarding a vehicle along the Kubwa expressway. The incident reportedly happened around 5:50 pm.
Her death came amid renewed concerns over the resurgence of one-chance attacks in Abuja, especially following the discovery of another victim, Chinemerem Chuwumeziem, a nurse at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, who was also killed the same day under similar circumstances.
Following the incidents, Nigerian Bar Association called on the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, to urgently address the rising cases of ‘one-chance’ crimes in the capital.
In a statement on Sunday, Josephine Adeh, spokesperson of the FCT police command, said the suspects were arrested after a coordinated operation directed by the FCT commissioner of police, Miller Dantawaye.
The statement said, “The federal capital territory (FCT) police command has recorded a major breakthrough in its sustained fight against violent crime with the arrest of three notorious armed robbery suspects involved in ‘one-chance’ criminal operations and the gruesome murder of a legal practitioner, Barrister Chigbo Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix.”
Adeh explained that the suspects were arrested between Friday and Saturday in parts of the Kubwa axis, including Dei-Dei, Dakwa, and Dan-Tata, after investigators tracked the victim’s mobile phone using digital intelligence.
Preliminary findings, according to the police, showed that the suspects had been operating within the FCT for years and usually intensified their activities during festive periods when residents travel frequently.
She said the suspects confessed to locking the vehicle windows, threatening the victim with weapons, and attempting to extort money from her.
Adeh said, “She was allegedly assaulted and pushed out of the moving vehicle after she refused to cooperate, leading to her death.”
The police spokesperson added that the suspects admitted to stealing the victim’s phone, which was later sold in Dei-Dei for N120,000.
She identified those arrested as Saifullahi Yusuf, 22; Ishau Yusuf, 24; and Minka’ilu Jibril, also known as Dan-Hajia, noting that they are all from Kaduna State and that Saifullahi and Ishau are siblings.
According to Adeh, Jibril received N30,000 from the sale, Saifullahi got N15,000, while Ishau and another suspect, Musa, who is currently on the run, shared the balance.
Items recovered from the suspects include scissors, knives, a chain allegedly used to restrain victims, and other sharp objects.
Adeh said investigations are still ongoing, adding that efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect and dismantle the entire criminal network.
