Justice for Chigbo: Police Dismantle Deadly ‘One-Chance’ Ring

The shadows of insecurity looming over the Federal Capital Territory were momentarily pierced this weekend as the FCT Police Command announced a major breakthrough in a case that has horrified the Nigerian legal community. Detectives have successfully apprehended three suspects linked to the brutal murder of Barrister Nwamaka Chigbo, a prominent legal practitioner and former treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association’s FCT branch. The arrest comes as a somber relief to a city still mourning a woman whose life was traded for the meager price of a used mobile phone.

Chigbo’s tragic end came on January 5, after she boarded what appeared to be a routine commercial vehicle along the busy Kubwa Expressway. The car, a black Volkswagen Golf 3, was instead a mobile trap operated by a “one-chance” robbery syndicate. Her body was later discovered discarded by the roadside, a grim scene that coincided with the death of another victim, Chinemerem Chuwumeziem, a nurse at the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi. The back-to-back killings of professional women highlighted a terrifying spike in violent transit crimes within the capital.

In a detailed briefing on Sunday, FCT Police Public Relations Officer Josephine Adeh confirmed that the arrests were the result of a direct mandate from Commissioner Miller Dantawaye. The mission was clear: hunt down those responsible for the assault on the legal practitioner and restore a sense of safety to the city’s transit corridors. Through the surgical application of digital intelligence, operatives tracked Chigbo’s stolen Android phone, leading them straight to the suspects’ doorstep.

The raids were carried out between Friday and Saturday, sweeping through the communities of Dei-Dei, Dakwa, and Dan-Tata in the Kubwa area. The suspects now in custody have been identified as 22-year-old Saifullahi Yusuf, 24-year-old Ishau Yusuf, and Minka’ilu Jibril, better known by the alias “Dan-Hajia.” Notably, the Yusuf suspects are brothers hailing from Kaduna State, suggesting a tight-knit family involvement in these predatory operations.

Under interrogation, the suspects reportedly provided a chilling account of their long-term criminal career. They admitted to operating within the FCT for several years, specifically targeting the high-traffic festive periods when residents are most vulnerable. Their methodology was as ruthless as it was efficient: they would use tinted windows to shield their activities from public view, brandish weapons to paralyze their victims with fear, and demand immediate financial payoffs.

The confrontation with Barrister Chigbo, however, took a lethal turn when she refused to submit to their intimidation. According to police reports, the suspects confessed that the lawyer’s refusal to cooperate led them to assault her violently. While the vehicle was still at high speed, they heartlessly pushed her out onto the expressway. The impact, combined with the injuries sustained during the struggle inside the car, ultimately led to her death.

The post-robbery details revealed a staggering disregard for human life. After killing the barrister, the gang sold her phone in the Dei-Dei market for 120,000 Naira. The distribution of these “blood funds” saw Jibril taking 30,000 Naira, while Saifullahi received a mere 15,000 Naira. The remaining balance was split between Ishau and a fourth accomplice identified as Musa, who managed to evade capture during the initial police raids.

When operatives searched the suspects’ quarters, they recovered an arsenal of tools designed for terror. The haul included five pairs of scissors, two daggers, two regular knives, a pair of pliers, and a long heavy chain. The presence of the chain is particularly haunting, suggesting that the gang may have utilized it to restrain or torture victims who attempted to resist their demands. These recoveries underscore the calculated nature of the syndicate’s violence.

While the arrest of these three men marks a significant victory for the FCT Command, the investigation remains very much active. Police have intensified their efforts to locate Musa, the fleeing member of the group, and are working to identify any other individuals who may have facilitated their years of terror. The authorities are determined to dismantle the entire network that allowed this “one-chance” cell to thrive in the heart of the nation.

The death of Barrister Chigbo has reignited a fierce public debate regarding the regulation of commercial transport and the safety of professional women in Abuja. For her family and the Nigerian Bar Association, these arrests are the first steps toward a justice that can never truly replace what was lost. As the suspects prepare to face the judiciary, the FCT Police have vowed that the city’s roads will no longer be a playground for predators.