The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has achieved a significant breakthrough with the arrest of three notorious armed robbery suspects linked to 'one-chance' operations and the brutal murder of a legal practitioner in Abuja.
How the Syndicate Was Busted
According to a statement issued by the command's spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, on Sunday, January 11, 2026, operatives from the Command's Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey, tracked the victim's mobile phone using reconstructive digital intelligence. This operation, conducted between January 5th and 10th, 2026, led to the subsequent arrests.
The apprehended individuals are two brothers, Saifullahi Yusuf (22) and Ishau Yusuf (24), alongside Minka’ilu Jibril, also known as Dan-Hajia. Preliminary investigations indicate they belong to a long-standing 'one-chance' armed robbery syndicate known to operate within the FCT, especially during festive periods.
Gruesome Details of the Crime
The investigation revealed that on January 5, 2026, at about 5:50 p.m., the victim, Barrister Chigbo Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix, unknowingly entered a black Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle along the Kubwa Expressway. The occupants, who were the suspects, immediately wound up the tinted windows and threatened her with weapons, demanding a ransom for her release.
When she allegedly refused to cooperate, she was physically assaulted and then pushed out of the moving vehicle along the same expressway. This heinous act resulted in her tragic death, and her body was dumped on the street. The assailants stole her personal belongings, including her Android mobile phone.
The suspects admitted to selling the phone at Dei-Dei market for One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N120,000). The proceeds were shared, with Minka’ilu Jibril receiving N30,000, Saifullahi Yusuf getting N15,000, while Ishau Yusuf and another fugitive suspect named Musa shared the remainder.
Recovered Exhibits and Ongoing Manhunt
Police recovered a cache of weapons and tools used by the syndicate from the suspects. The items include:
- Five (5) scissors
- Two (2) sharp dagger knives
- Two (2) knives
- One (1) long chain used for restraining victims
- One (1) plier
SP Adeh confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with intensive efforts geared towards apprehending the remaining suspect, Musa, who is currently at large. The police are also working to uncover any additional criminal networks linked to this syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller Dantawaye, commended the professionalism and dedication of the operatives involved. He reassured residents of the FCT of the Command's unwavering commitment to ridding the territory of criminal elements.
The police have once again advised the public to remain vigilant, avoid boarding unregistered or suspicious vehicles, and promptly report any suspicious activities through the Command's emergency numbers: 08032003913 and 07057337653. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
