The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested three suspects believed to be responsible for the brutal murder of Mr. Azubuko Nwakama, a staff member of Liberty Radio.
The incident occurred in June 2024, when Nwakama was attacked, robbed, and fatally stabbed at Panteka Market in Mpape, Abuja.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, the attack on Mr. Nwakama took place on the 14th of June, 2024, sending shockwaves through the local community and prompting immediate police intervention.
Nwakama was reportedly accosted by unknown assailants who violently robbed him of his personal belongings, including a mobile phone, before inflicting fatal injuries.
In response to the incident, detectives attached to the Mpape Division were promptly deployed to investigate the crime. Despite the initial challenges, including the fact that the stolen mobile phone—a Redmi 13C—was switched off for more than a year, the police team maintained a relentless pursuit to solve the case.
The command revealed that early efforts to locate the stolen device proved futile as the phone remained powered down, making tracking impossible. Undeterred, the detectives continued monitoring various digital and physical leads for over a year, demonstrating extraordinary patience and commitment.
A significant breakthrough finally came on August 2, 2025, when the stolen Redmi 13C was switched on and detected by law enforcement officers. The device’s location was immediately traced to a suspect named Mutari Lawal, aged 32, from Kano State, who was promptly apprehended by officers from the Mpape Division.
During a thorough interrogation, Lawal admitted to attacking and stabbing the late Mr. Nwakama. He also confessed to robbing the victim of his valuables and taking the stolen mobile phone to Kano.
Lawal revealed a calculated plan to keep the phone switched off for an extended period to avoid detection. He switched it on in August 2025 with the intent of wiping the data clean, inserting his own SIM card, and eventually returning the phone to Abuja.
Furthermore, Lawal identified two accomplices involved in the attack: Dan’Asabe Ibrahim, 22, from Zamfara State, and Danjuma Ibrahim, 18, both of whom are believed to reside in Mpape but have no fixed addresses. Following the confession, police operatives moved swiftly to arrest the two men.
The command’s spokesperson elaborated, “The investigation was painstaking and required meticulous attention to detail. Our officers worked tirelessly over the months, tracking digital footprints and interrogating potential leads until this arrest was made. This case is a testament to the determination of our men and women in uniform.”
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, lauded the efforts of the Mpape Division’s detectives, describing their persistence as exemplary. He further urged criminals within the Federal Capital Territory to reconsider their actions, warning that law enforcement agencies are vigilant and prepared to bring offenders to justice.
“This arrest serves as a clear message to those who think they can evade the law. We will pursue you relentlessly and ensure that justice is served,” the Commissioner emphasized.
The suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue. Authorities have assured the public that they will prosecute the suspects to the fullest extent of the law, bringing closure to the victim’s family and restoring peace within the community.