The Nigeria Police Force, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has arrested three “notorious armed robbery” suspects allegedly involved in the murder of a legal practitioner, Chigbo Nwamaka Mediatrix, along the Kubwa Expressway, Abuja.

The suspects were identified as Saifullahi Yusuf, 22; Ishau Yusuf, 24 – both from Kaduna State and residents of Dan-Tata Community, Dei-Dei, Abuja – and Minka’ilu Jibril, also known as Dan-Hajia, from Kaduna State.

The first two suspects are biological brothers.

Recall that Ms Mediatrix was murdered last week after reportedly falling victim to a ‘one-chance’ robbery operation, with her lifeless body later discovered by the roadside along the Kubwa expressway. 

In a statement on Sunday, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said the arrests followed clear directives from the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Miller Dantawaye, to ensure that those connected to the gruesome murder and similar crimes in the FCT were swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.

Ms Adeh disclosed that between January 5 and 10, 2026, operatives of the Command’s Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey, acted on reconstructive digital intelligence by tracking the victim’s mobile phone, which led them to Dei-Dei, Dakwa and Dan-Tata communities within the Kubwa Area Council

She explained that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were members of a notorious “one-chance armed robbery” syndicate that had operated intermittently within the FCT for several years, especially during festive periods.

According to her, on January 5, 2026, at about 5:50pm, the victim unknowingly boarded the suspects’ black Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle along the Kubwa expressway. 

She said, “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.”

Ms Adeh said the suspects allegedly confessed to dispossessing the victim of her Android mobile phone, which was later sold at Dei-Dei for N120,000 while Minka’ilu Jibril received N30,000,

She alleged that Saifullahi Yusuf received N15,000, while Ishau Yusuf and another suspect currently at large, identified as Musa, shared the remaining amount.

Items recovered from the suspects during their arrest include five scissors, two sharp dagger knives, two knives, one long chain used for restraining victims, and one plier – all believed to have been used in their criminal activities.

Ms Adeh added that investigations were ongoing, and efforts intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect and other criminal networks linked to the syndicate.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Dantawaye, however, lauded the professionalism of the operatives involved and reassured residents of the FCT of the command’s determination to rid the territory of criminals.