The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has made significant progress in the investigation into the discovery of a man's body under the Katampe Bridge in Abuja. According to Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Sanusi, the lifeless body was discovered along the Kubwa Expressway by Katampe on August 26. The body was initially linked to kidnapping and "one chance" robbery in media reports and public commentary. However, the police have established that the deceased was the same person whose disappearance had earlier been reported.
The police investigation revealed that the deceased's missing mobile phone provided a major lead in the investigation. The phone had been switched off, but investigators traced the deceased's last known communication to Mrs. Rukayat Muhammed of Garki Area 2. Further investigation revealed that Muhammed, a married woman, was allegedly in a romantic relationship with the deceased and had saved his contact as "Safiyat" on her phone. This discovery led police to the Good Samaritan Guest House, Second Avenue, Gwarimpa, where Muhammed and the deceased had lodged.
According to CP Sanusi, Muhammed allegedly discovered that the deceased was no longer breathing and instead of reporting the incident to the police, she took the deceased's mobile phone and left the hotel. Several hours later, after attempts by the hotel management to contact the occupants of the room failed, the room was accessed and the deceased's body was found. The police have since linked Muhammed and two hotel workers to the dumping of the body.
The two hotel workers, identified as Ibrahim Omeiza and Kefat Bitrus, allegedly removed the body from the room and transported it to the Kubwa Expressway by Katampe, where they dumped it under the bridge. The police have arrested Muhammed and the two hotel workers in connection with the incident. The investigation has not established the exact cause and circumstances of the man's death.
CP Sanusi stressed that the investigation is ongoing, and other investigative processes are being pursued to determine the full facts of the case. He added that anyone found to have played a role in the death or subsequent concealment and abandonment of the body would face the law. The police investigation demonstrated the Command's resolve not to draw conclusions from the discovery of bodies before establishing the facts surrounding their deaths.
The police have assured that they will thoroughly investigate the matter and bring those responsible to justice. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of hotel guests and the need for hotel staff to be vigilant and report suspicious incidents to the authorities. The police have urged the public to be cautious when staying in hotels and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Sanusi, has reiterated the police commitment to transparency and accountability in their investigations. He emphasized that the police will not compromise on their mandate to ensure that justice is served in this case. The investigation is ongoing, and the police are working to establish the full facts of the case.
Key points
- A woman and two hotel workers have been linked to the dumping of a man's body found under the Katampe Bridge in Abuja.
- The police investigation revealed that the deceased's missing mobile phone provided a major lead in the investigation.
- The exact cause and circumstances of the man's death are still under investigation.
