Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of a staff member of Liberty Radio identified as Azubuko Nwakama.
Nwakama who was attacked and robbed at Panteka Market, Mpape, Abuja in June 2024 and subsequently died.
Providing an update on the matter on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh said following the incident, detectives were deployed to investigate the matter.
She added that three suspects: Mutari Lawal, 32, from Kano State; Dan’Asabe Ibrahim, 22, from Zamfara State; and Danjuma Ibrahim, 18, of no fixed address in Mpape were tracked down following over a year of investigation.
Adeh said efforts to trace the stolen phone initially failed as it remained switched off for more than a year.
She added that the breakthrough came on August 2, 2025, when a phone — a Redmi 13C — stolen from the deceased was powered on and tracked to Lawal, who was arrested.
Adeh said, “Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, attached to Mpape Division, have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of Mr. Azubuko Nwakama, a staff member of Liberty Radio, who was attacked and robbed on 14th June 2024 at Panteka Market, Mpape, Abuja.
“Following the incident in June 2024, detectives from Mpape Division immediately launched a comprehensive investigation. The suspects had dispossessed the victim of his mobile phone and other valuables. Despite extensive tracking efforts, the device remained switched off, making it difficult to trace.
“The investigation team remained on the case for over a year, closely monitoring possible digital traces linked to the stolen phone. The breakthrough came on 2nd August 2025, when the victim’s phone, a Redmi 13C, was switched on. It was immediately tracked to one Mutari Lawal, 32 yrs, from Kano State, who was promptly arrested.”
Adeh said Lawal confessed to the crime, adding that he had taken the phone to Kano, kept it off for a year, and switched it on in August 2025 to erase data before returning to Abuja.
“During interrogation, Mutari confessed to attacking and stabbing the deceased before making away with his valuables. He named his accomplices as Dan’Asabe Ibrahim, 22yrs, from Zamfara State, and Danjuma Ibrahim 18yrs, both of no fixed address in Mpape, with whom he carried out the crime. He further disclosed that he took the stolen phone to Kano, kept it switched off for a year, and only powered it on in August 2025 to wipe data, insert his SIM card, and return to Abuja, “ Adeh said.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, commended the officers for their persistence and warned criminal elements to desist or face the law.
