A 29-year-old graduate of Sociology from Kogi State University, identified as Blessing Moshood, has been found dead after she was allegedly killed and dumped inside a canal in the Jikwoyi area of the Federal Capital Territory.
The deceased was said to have left her family residence on Thursday night after receiving a phone call, but never returned home.
Speaking on the incident, Blessing’s sister, Abigail Moshood, said the victim initially stepped out around 8pm and later called to inform the family that she would briefly return to pick up her phone charger, which she had forgotten at home.
She explained that the family became alarmed after repeated efforts to reach her failed and she did not return the following day.
Abigail said they later heard residents discussing the discovery of a woman’s corpse inside a canal, adding that the hairstyle described by witnesses matched that of her sister.
“We later learnt that policemen from the Jikwoyi Police Station evacuated the body to a mortuary in Mararaba. When I got to the station, they showed me photographs and I confirmed it was my sister,” she said.
According to her, the deceased was found half-naked, wearing only a top when her body was recovered from the canal.
A resident of the area, Margaret, described the late graduate as intelligent and friendly, saying her death had thrown the neighbourhood into mourning.
“She graduated with a Second Class Upper in Sociology and related well with everyone around here. Many people, especially children in the area, have been devastated by the news of her death,” the resident said.
Another resident, Abdullahi Musa, urged security agencies to intensify surveillance around the Jikwoyi Medical Centre axis, which he claimed had become notorious for criminal activities, including phone snatching.
The spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident and said investigation into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death was ongoing.