Police nab brothers, accomplice over Abuja lawyer’s killing

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the killing of a legal practitioner, Chigbo Princess, allegedly linked to “one-chance” armed robbery operations in Abuja.

In a statement on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said the arrests followed directives by the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Miller Dantawaye, to identify and apprehend those responsible for the crime.

She said operatives of the command’s Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey, tracked the victim’s mobile phone using digital intelligence and carried out operations between January 5 and 10, 2026, in Dei-Dei, Dakwa and Dan-Tata communities in Kubwa.

Adeh identified the suspects as Saifullahi Yusuf, 22; Ishau Yusuf, 24; and Minka’ilu Jibril, also known as Dan-Hajia. She said Saifullahi and Ishau are brothers and residents of Dan-Tata Community, Dei-Dei, Abuja.

The statement partly read, “The 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, Chigbo Princess.

“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: Saifullahi Yusuf (male, 22 years), from Kaduna North LGA, Kaduna State, resident at Dan-Tata Community, Dei-Dei, Abuja; Ishau Yusuf (male, 24 years), from Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, resident at Dan-Tata Community, Dei-Dei, Abuja; and Minka’ilu Jibril, also known as Dan-Hajia, from Kaduna North LGA, Kaduna State.

“It is pertinent to note that the first and second suspects are 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.”

Adeh said investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly threatened the deceased, demanded money and later pushed her out of a moving vehicle, leading to her death.

“Further investigations revealed that on January 5, 2026, at about 5:50 p.m., Barrister 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 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,” she said.

Adeh added that the suspects dispossessed the victim of her Android mobile phone, which was later sold in Dei-Dei for ₦120,000.

“The suspects further admitted that from the proceeds, Minka’ilu Jibril received ₦30,000, Saifullahi Yusuf received ₦15,000, while Ishau Yusuf and another suspect currently at large, identified as Musa, shared the remaining amount,” she said.

She said items recovered from the suspects included five scissors, two dagger knives, two knives, one long chain and one plier.

had earlier reported that the body of Princess Chigbo was found on the Kubwa Expressway on Tuesday, with her bag containing her identity card and other personal belongings recovered a few metres from the body.

Documents recovered from the deceased suggested she may have been a staff member of the FCT High Court.

In a brief statement on Wednesday, Adeh confirmed that detectives had commenced investigations into the case.

The development comes shortly after the killing of a nurse with the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, identified as Chinemerem Chuwumeziem.

Her death sparked outrage and condemnation from the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, FCT Council.