Police arrest 3 ‘one-chance’ robbery suspects over killing of Abuja female lawyer

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested three suspected armed robbers believed to be members of a notorious “one-chance” syndicate linked to the killing of a legal practitioner, Barrister Chigbo Princess Mediatrix, in Abuja.

The arrests were confirmed in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, following directives issued by the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller Dantawaye, to ensure those responsible for the crime and similar offences across the territory are apprehended and prosecuted.

According to the statement, the suspects were arrested after operatives of the Command’s Scorpion Squad carried out intelligence-led operations across several communities in the FCT.

“Between 5th and 10th January, 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 statement said.

The police disclosed that Saifullahi Yusuf and Ishau Yusuf are biological brothers, adding that preliminary findings showed the suspects belong to a criminal gang that has carried out “one-chance” robbery operations within the FCT for several years, particularly during festive seasons.

“Further investigations revealed that on 5th January, 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 One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (₦120,000). From which:”.
“Minka’ilu Jibril received ₦30,000
“Saifullahi Yusuf received ₦15,000″•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 (5) scissors•Two (2) sharp dagger knives•Two (2) knives•One (1) long chain used for restraining victims•One (1) plier

“These items are believed to have been used in the commission of their criminal activities.

“Investigation is ongoing, and 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,” it added.