Nigeria’s capital has recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against violent crime after police arrested three suspected members of a notorious “one-chance” robbery syndicate linked to the murder of Abuja-based lawyer, Barrister Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command confirmed that the suspects were arrested following intelligence-driven operations carried out between January 5 and January 10, 2026, targeting criminal networks operating along the Kubwa Expressway and surrounding communities.
Police said the arrests followed direct orders from the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller Dantawaye, who mandated a full-scale manhunt for those responsible for Chigbo’s killing and similar crimes terrorising commuters in Abuja.
Digital Intelligence Led to Arrests
Operatives of the Command’s elite Scorpion Squad, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Victor Ogbeide Godfrey, tracked the victim’s mobile phone using what police described as “reconstructive digital intelligence.” The trail led investigators to Dei-Dei, Dakwa, and Dan-Tata communities within the Kubwa axis.
Three suspects were taken into custody:
- Saifullahi Yusuf, 22, from Kaduna State
- Ishau Yusuf, 24, from Kaduna State
- Minka’ilu Jibril, also known as Dan-Hajia, also from Kaduna State
Police confirmed that Saifullahi and Ishau Yusuf are brothers.
How the Crime Happened
According to preliminary investigations, the suspects belong to a long-running “one-chance” armed robbery gang that preys on unsuspecting commuters, particularly during festive seasons when movement is heavy and vigilance is low.
Investigators said that on January 5, 2026, at about 5:50 p.m., Barrister Chigbo boarded a black Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle along the Kubwa Expressway, unaware that the occupants were criminals.
Once inside, police said the suspects locked the tinted windows and threatened her with weapons, attempting to extort ransom. When she allegedly resisted, she was assaulted and pushed out of the moving vehicle, sustaining fatal injuries.
Her body was later discovered along the expressway, sparking outrage across Nigeria’s legal community and renewed scrutiny of “one-chance” operations in the capital.
Stolen Phone Sold for ₦120,000
Police said the suspects admitted to stealing Chigbo’s Android phone and selling it at Dei-Dei market for ₦120,000.
According to investigators:
- Minka’ilu Jibril received ₦30,000
- Saifullahi Yusuf received ₦15,000
- Ishau Yusuf and another suspect, Musa, who remains at large, shared the balance
Weapons Recovered
During the arrests, officers recovered several items believed to have been used in the gang’s operations, including:
- Five scissors
- Two dagger knives
- Two additional knives
- A long metal chain allegedly used to restrain victims
- A plier
Police said investigations are ongoing and efforts are underway to arrest the remaining suspect and dismantle the wider criminal network linked to the gang.
Police Reassure Abuja Residents
Commending the operatives involved, CP Dantawaye reassured residents that the Command remains committed to eliminating violent crime in the FCT.
He urged commuters to avoid unregistered or suspicious vehicles and to report suspicious movements through police emergency lines: 08032003913 and 07057337653.
The police said further updates would be provided as the investigations progress.
