The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a married woman, Mrs Rukayat Muhammed, following an investigation into the death of a man who was allegedly in a romantic relationship with her.
The development came after the man, whose identity has not been made public by the police, was found dead beside the Kubwa Expressway near the Katampe under-bridge in Abuja on August 26, 2026.
The circumstances surrounding the discovery initially raised concerns that the deceased might have been a victim of kidnapping or a “one chance” robbery.
However, investigators later traced the circumstances of his final movements to a guest house in Gwarimpa, where he had reportedly stayed with Muhammed.
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, disclosed the details during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Abuja on Saturday.
Sanusi explained that the investigation began after the deceased’s family reported him missing.
When his body was later discovered along the expressway, detectives began working to establish his identity and determine how he ended up at the location.
A major breakthrough reportedly came from the deceased’s missing mobile phone.
According to the commissioner, investigators noticed that the phone was not found with the body and began efforts to trace the device and examine the deceased’s recent communications.
Although the phone was eventually switched off, police detectives were able to identify the last person who had communicated with the deceased.
The trail subsequently led investigators to Muhammed, who lives in Garki Area 2, Abuja.
Further inquiries allegedly established that the woman and the deceased were acquainted and had been involved in a romantic relationship.
Police also discovered that she had saved the deceased’s contact on her phone under the name “Safiyat.”
Investigators subsequently linked the pair to Good Samaritan Guest House on 2nd Avenue, Gwarimpa, where they were said to have lodged together.
According to Sanusi, the woman told investigators that she realised the man was no longer breathing and had died while they were at the guest house.
The commissioner said the suspect did not immediately contact the police after discovering the situation. Instead, she allegedly took the deceased’s mobile phone and left the premises.
“Rather than immediately reporting the incident to the Police, the suspect took the deceased’s mobile phone and left the hotel,” Sanusi said.
The situation later came to the attention of the guest house management after staff members were unable to establish contact with the occupants of the room.
Sanusi said access was eventually gained to the room, where the management discovered the deceased’s body.
Rather than alerting the police about the discovery, however, two members of the guest house management allegedly decided to remove the body from the premises.
The two men were identified by the commissioner as Ibrahim Omeiza and Kefat Bitrus.
Police allege that Omeiza and Bitrus subsequently transported the body away from the guest house and abandoned it beside the Kubwa Expressway near the Katampe under-bridge.
The commissioner said the action appeared to have been an attempt to separate the guest house and its management from the circumstances surrounding the death.
The discovery of the body at the roadside had initially created a different narrative around the case, with the circumstances prompting speculation about possible kidnapping or a “one chance” robbery.
However, the police investigation has now established a different sequence of events involving the deceased’s movements before his body was abandoned.
Despite the progress made by investigators, the police said several questions surrounding the case remain unanswered.
Sanusi stressed that the investigation was still ongoing and that detectives had not yet established the exact cause of the man’s death.
The police have also not conclusively stated how the deceased died or whether the people currently being investigated were directly responsible for his death.
Further investigative procedures are therefore being conducted to determine what happened inside the guest house, the events that followed the man’s death and the circumstances under which his body was transported to the expressway.
The commissioner said investigators would continue examining all available evidence and following relevant leads before reaching a final conclusion.
He warned that anyone found to have participated in the death, concealment of information, removal of the body or abandonment of the deceased would be dealt with according to the law.
“Anyone found to have played a role in the death or subsequent concealment and abandonment of the body will be made to face the law,” Sanusi stated.
The police commissioner also appealed to members of the public to avoid actions that could frustrate criminal investigations.
He specifically cautioned against concealing information, obstructing law enforcement officers or taking steps designed to prevent the authorities from properly investigating suspicious deaths or other criminal incidents.
The case also highlights the significance of digital evidence in modern criminal investigations, as detectives were reportedly able to use the deceased’s communication history to identify the person he last contacted despite the subsequent disappearance and switching off of his phone.
For the FCT Police Command, the investigation is not yet over. Detectives are expected to continue piecing together the deceased’s final movements and determining the roles, if any, played by the individuals connected to the guest house.
The command has maintained that the identity of anyone ultimately responsible for the man’s death or the subsequent handling of his body will be determined through evidence gathered during the investigation.
Until the investigation is concluded, the police have not disclosed the precise cause of death or established criminal responsibility for the death.
Sanusi assured the public that investigators would continue to pursue the matter and ensure that anyone found culpable is subjected to the appropriate legal process.