The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a married woman, Mrs Rukayat Muhammed, and two hotel staff members in connection with the discovery and disposal of a man’s body under a bridge in Abuja in August 2026.
The suspects were identified by the police as Muhammed of Garki Area 2, Ibrahim Omeiza, and Kefat Bitrus, who were described as members of staff of the hotel where the deceased was found.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the development during a press conference on Saturday, September 26, 2026, saying the investigation began after the deceased was reported missing by his family.
According to the Commissioner, investigators discovered that the deceased’s mobile phone was missing and traced his last known communication to Muhammed. Although the phone had been switched off, police said technical investigations helped establish the woman as the last person known to have communicated with the deceased.
Police alleged that Muhammed, who was married, had been in a romantic relationship with the deceased and had saved his contact on her phone under the name “Safiyat.”
The police said that on or about August 27, the pair lodged at Good Samaritan Guest House, Second Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
According to the investigation, Muhammed discovered that the man was no longer breathing while they were in the hotel room. Police alleged that instead of immediately reporting the incident, she took the deceased’s mobile phone and left the hotel.
The Commissioner said hotel staff later attempted to contact the occupants of the room after they failed to check out. When repeated attempts to gain access were unsuccessful, the room was opened and the deceased’s body was discovered.
Police alleged that Omeiza and Bitrus subsequently removed the body from the hotel and transported it to the Kubwa Expressway/Katampe bridge area, where it was dumped by the roadside instead of being reported to the authorities.
The deceased’s body was later discovered in the area in August, while investigations continued following the missing-person report filed by his family.
The police said Muhammed was subsequently traced and arrested. According to the Commissioner, her statement and information obtained during the investigation led detectives to the hotel, where further inquiries allegedly established the involvement of the two hotel staff members.
However, the police stressed that the exact cause and circumstances of the man’s death remain under investigation.
The command said additional investigative procedures are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death and the subsequent disposal of the body.
The investigation followed a missing-person report by the deceased’s family, who had sought information about his whereabouts before detectives established a connection between his last known communication and the hotel incident.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated
