By Adenike Lawal
More than a year after the brutal killing of Liberty Radio staff member, Mr. Azubuko Nwakama, at Panteka Market in Mpape, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has finally tracked down and arrested three men linked to the crime.
Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, revealed that the breakthrough came after 14 months of painstaking investigation and surveillance by detectives from the Mpape Division. Nwakama was attacked on June 14, 2024, stabbed, and robbed of his mobile phone and other belongings. For over a year, the stolen device a Redmi 13C remained switched off, making it impossible for investigators to trace.
The case took a turn on August 2, 2025, when the phone was finally switched on in Abuja. It led police to 32-year-old Mutari Lawal from Kano State. Upon his arrest, Lawal allegedly confessed to the crime and identified two accomplice, 22-year-old Dan’Asabe Ibrahim from Zamfara State and 18-year-old Danjuma Ibrahim, both without fixed addresses in Mpape. Lawal reportedly admitted he had hidden the phone in Kano for over a year before attempting to erase its data and insert a new SIM card.
FCT Police Commissioner, CP Ajao Adewale, praised the investigating officers for their relentless pursuit of justice, warning other criminals in the territory to “repent or relocate” because, as he put it, “the long arm of the law is patient, persistent, and resolute.”
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities, reiterating their commitment to making the FCT safer for all.