Residents of Jikwoyi in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the commissioner of police, Ahmed Sanusi, to personally supervise the investigation into the gruesome murder of 29-year-old graduate, Blessing Moshood, whose body was discovered in a canal in Abuja.
The residents expressed concerns over what they described as a slow and inadequate response by officers at the Jikwoyi Police Division, alleging that the family was only directed to the mortuary where the corpse was deposited and advised to carry out an autopsy.
Blessing was reportedly murdered on Thursday night after leaving her residence around 8 pm following a phone conversation with an unidentified person. Speaking on the incident, a resident, Mrs Ramat Ali, said the circumstances surrounding the killing require a thorough and intelligence-driven investigation.
According to her, investigators should track the caller who invited the deceased out on the night she disappeared and also trace her missing mobile phone.
“This is clearly a murder case, and the police must go beyond ordinary procedures. They should investigate who called her out and recover her phone because these are important clues,” she said.
She also lamented the financial burden placed on the bereaved family through the recommendation for an autopsy amid the current economic hardship.
Another resident, Joy Nwosu, appealed to the police commissioner to deploy the same level of commitment used in previous high-profile criminal investigations in the FCT. She referenced the case of a female lawyer allegedly murdered by ‘one chance’ operators along the Kubwa Expressway, which received swift police attention.
“We have seen the commissioner tackle difficult criminal cases before. We are pleading with him to ensure justice is served in this matter, too,” she stated.
The murder has also heightened fears among women living in the area. A nurse, Munirat Abdulkadir, who often returns home late from work, said the incident has created anxiety among female residents.
“We no longer feel safe. I usually close from work around 10 pm, and now everyone is afraid,” she said.
Another resident, Ego Isiogu, described the incident as shocking, urging women to be more security-conscious and to always inform family members of their movements. Habibatu Isah also recalled previous incidents involving the killing of women in the community, saying residents are increasingly worried about safety in Jikwoyi.
“Last year, a pregnant woman was killed, and years ago, another woman was murdered inside her room. This latest incident has deepened fear among women here,” she added.
Narrating how the tragedy unfolded, Blessing’s sister, Abigail Moshood, said the deceased left home after receiving a phone call and later contacted the family to say she would return shortly to pick up a forgotten phone charger.
However, she never returned home. The family later learned about the discovery of a female corpse in a canal after some residents described the victim’s hairstyle.
According to Abigail, officers from the Jikwoyi Police Division evacuated the body, reportedly found half-naked, to a mortuary in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
A neighbour, Margaret, described the late Blessing as intelligent, friendly and loved within the community.
“She graduated with a Second Class Upper in Sociology and was very brilliant. Children in this neighbourhood have been crying since the news broke,” she said.
Another resident, Abdullahi Musa, urged the police to intensify surveillance around the Jikwoyi Medical Centre axis, which he described as a hotspot for criminal activities, including phone snatching. The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Josephine Adeh, confirmed that the matter is under investigation and said she would obtain details from the division handling the case.
