The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command says it 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.
The arrest followed directives issued by the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller Dantawaye, PSC, to ensure that all perpetrators connected to the murder of the victim and other similar crimes within the FCT are swiftly identified and brought to justice.
Between January 5 and 10, 2026, operatives of the Command’s Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey, acting on reconstructive digital intelligence, tracked the victim’s mobile phone and conducted follow up operations at Dei-Dei, Dakwa, and Dan-Tata communities within Kubwa Area of the FCT.
These intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of the following suspects:
1. Saifullahi Yusuf (Male, 22 years) – from Kaduna State, resident at Dan-Tata Community, Dei-Dei, Abuja.
2. Ishau Yusuf (Male, 24 years) – from Kaduna State, resident at Dan-Tata Community, Dei-Dei, Abuja.
3. Minka’ilu Jibril, also known as Dan-Hajia – from, Kaduna State.
The first and second suspects are said to be biological brothers.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are members of a notorious “one-chance” armed robbery syndicate that has been operating on and off within the FCT for several years, particularly during festive periods.
Further investigations revealed that, on January 5, 2026, at about 5:50 p.m., Barr. Princess Chigbo unknowingly boarded their black Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle along the Kubwa Expressway, unaware that the occupants were criminals. Upon entry into the vehicle, the suspects wound up the tinted windows and threatened the victim with weapons in an attempt to force her to pay ransom for her own release. When she allegedly refused to cooperate, she was physically assaulted and pushed out of the moving vehicle along the Kubwa Expressway, resulting in her death.
The suspects further admitted to dispossessing the victim of her Android mobile phone, which was later sold at Dei-Dei for the sum of ₦120,000. From which: Minka’ilu Jibril received ₦30,000, Saifullahi Yusuf received ₦15,000, and Ishau Yusuf and another suspect currently at large, Musa, shared the remaining amount.
During the arrest, the following exhibits were recovered from the suspects: five scissors, two sharp dagger knives, two knives, one long chain used for restraining victims, and one plier.
These items are believed to have been used in the commission of their criminal activities.
Investigation is ongoing, stated the Police, adding that intensive efforts are in top gear to apprehend the remaining suspect currently at large, as well as to uncover any additional criminal networks linked to the syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller Dantawaye, PSC, commends the professionalism and dedication of the operatives involved and reassured residents of the FCT that the Command remained resolute in its commitment to rid the Territory of criminal elements.
The Police advised members of the public to remain vigilant, avoid boarding unregistered or suspicious vehicles, and promptly report any suspicious activities through the Commands emergency numbers: 08032003913, 07057337653.
SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Police Command, Abuja, disclosed that further updates would be communicated as investigations progress.
Meanwhile, major groups which late Barrister Princess Mediatrix Nwamaka Chigbo was aligned with, have rolled out a programme of activities to honour her before her corpse is taken to her home state, Anambra.
The groups, who have announced their activities, are the Blessed Iwene Tansi Catholic Community of St. Mary John Vianney (SJMV) Lugbe, Abuja, and Global Association of Female Attorneys (GAFA).
According to SJMV, there will be a three-day prayers, hymns and Requiem Mass for late Barrister Chigbo at SJMV Catholic Church, Lugbe, Abuja, F.C.T.
The activities will begin on Monday, January 12, by 5.30pm and will be led by Sacred Heart Society. This will be followed by evening Mass.
On Tuesday, January 13, Iwene Tansi Community will lead the prayers starting by 5.30pm and end with the celebration of evening Mass.
On Wednesday, January 14, there will be Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of late Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo to round off the prayer sessions starting 6.00pm.
On Thursday, January 15, Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Procathedral, Area 3, Abuja, will celebrate Requiem Mass for the soul of late Barrister Chigbo. All the society she belongs such as Infant Jesus, Mother of Perpetual Help, Legion of Mary, Divine Mercy are expected to be at the Mass.
The Requiem Mass will begin by 6pm.
Additionally, the Global Association of Female Attorneys will host a night of tribute on Friday, January 16, to honour the life, legacy, and cherished memories of Princess Mediatrix Chigbo.
According to Chinelo Virginia Iriele, president, Global Association of Female Attorneys, “This will be a moment of reflection, remembrance, and mutual support as we celebrate a life well lived and bid her a peaceful farewell.
“Though words may never fully capture the depth of our sorrow, your presence will mean a great deal to us as we come together to honour her enduring impact and beautiful legacy.”
The venue for the night of tribute is Delight Garden and Park, Plot 990, Joshua Madaki Close, Apo Zone E, by Start-Rite School, Abuja.
The event will start by 4:00pm and the dress code is black.
Realnews reports that the late Barrister Chigbo’s family announced the death of Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo, an Abuja-based lawyer, at the hands of still-to-be-identified kidnappers in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Nwamaka was the elder sister of Dr. Maureen Chigbo, Editor/Publisher of Nigeria’s pioneer online Realnews Magazine, Barrister Mrs. Anthonia Ejenike of the Ministry of Justice, and Nwakaego Chigbo. Her brothers are Celestine Chigbo of Jogene Enterprises and Gerald Chigbo of Sparklinks Nigeria Ltd.
According to a statement by the Chigbo’s family, Nwamaka, before her abduction, was on the phone with Anthonia, another sister, who briefly interrupted the call to attend to a client.
“When Anthonia reverted, Nwamaka’s phone was still live, with her distress cry heard in the background before the phone suddenly went dead and unreachable,” the statement added.
“Anthonia alerted her elder sister, Maureen Chigbo, and other family members, who called the lawyer’s number repeatedly to reach her or her abductors to no avail,” the statement continued, adding: “When a call finally went through, a male voice rained curses in English and Hausa language, saying: “Thunder fire you there, send three million Naira or else we will kill her.”
According to the statement, the captors gave no further details and abruptly terminated subsequent calls.
The family contacted the police, who sprang into action, assuring that they were tracking the kidnappers, who were said to be “in motion and would likely drop the lawyer off once they might have collected the ransom,” the statement further said.
“The kidnappers never initiated any calls, and when Nwamaka’s family members reached them through her phone for clarification on how the ransom would be paid, they only heard the lawyer screaming in pain, “I am dying. …save me, please send the money, I am dying,” before the phone finally went dead again,” the statement added.
While making frantic efforts for Nwamaka’s rescue, the family said, they were informed on Tuesday, January 6, that “a lady had been found in a critical condition and taken to an Abuja specialist hospital.”
According to the statement, Maureen “immediately took a flight from Lagos to Abuja and on reaching the hospital, saw her sister’s lifeless body in the mortuary with bruises, swollen eyes and a cracked skull, all signs of a tortured death.”
The Chigbo family has met with the Police authorities, who assured them that the case was under investigation and that the culprits would be apprehended, the statement added.
Nwamaka was a former Treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja, a member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the Global Association of Female Lawyers (GAFA). She had also served as President of the Catholic Lawyers Association, Abuja Branch.
A devout Catholic, Nwamaka authored a book on Infant Jesus, and until her death, was the vice president of the Infant Jesus Association, and a member of the Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Group.
According to the statement, her family has expressed its “gratitude to the Police for their efforts and cooperation so far, and urges the force to ensure that justice is served in Nwamaka’s case.”
The family also thanked “Nwamaka’s friends, colleagues and well-wishers for their support and prayers,” the statement said, adding that her funeral arrangements “will be announced as soon as possible.”