By Suleiman Abdulmumin
An Ebira socio-cultural association, Ozuorihi Ebira, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to urgently release the outcome of its investigation into the alleged luring, kidnapping and murder of a young Ebira woman, Zubaidat Isah, in Abuja.
The association said the continued silence surrounding the case has deepened the pain and trauma of the victim’s family and heightened tensions within the Ebira community, particularly in Okene, where Zubaidat hailed from.
Zubaidat Isah, described by family members as hardworking and dedicated, was reportedly employed at Spa Republic, a beauty and wellness establishment in Utako, Abuja. On February 13, 2025, she was said to have received a call from her employer, Grace Okosun, instructing her to attend to a client at House 3 Hotel in the Gwarinpa area of the Federal Capital Territory.
Although it was reportedly her scheduled day off, she agreed to honour the request and went to the location accompanied by a colleague. According to accounts from the colleague, who later escaped, the situation took a shocking turn when their employer allegedly appeared at the hotel despite earlier indicating she was not in Abuja. The colleague alleged that the employer arrived armed with a knife and a bottle containing a suspected toxic substance and attacked Zubaidat.
The colleague managed to escape, but Zubaidat has not been seen since that day.
More than a year after the incident, the family says they have neither seen Zubaidat nor recovered her body, leaving them in prolonged grief and uncertainty. The emotional toll has reportedly been severe, with the family enduring trauma and loss linked to the incident. The association added that the victim’s mother has been left devastated, while the grandmother reportedly died following the emotional shock of her granddaughter’s disappearance.
In its statement, Ozuorihi Ebira urged the Inspector-General of Police to treat the case with urgency and make public the findings of the investigation, stressing that justice must be served and clarity provided to the family and the Ebira people.
The association also called on the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to urgently intervene and support efforts to ensure justice and accountability.
The group warned that continued delays could increase tension within Ebira land and undermine public confidence in the justice system.
Questions have also been raised about the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack at House 3 Hotel in Gwarinpa, including whether surveillance footage exists and whether staff or witnesses provided useful information to investigators.
As of press time, the police have not released any official statement detailing the outcome of their investigation. Community leaders have, however, urged residents to remain calm and allow security agencies to carry out their duties while continuing to demand transparency and justice through lawful means.