The Federal Capital Territory Police Command stresses the importance of apprehending and holding accountable the individuals responsible for the tragic death of the well-known cross-dresser called Abuja Area Mama.
In a WhatsApp exchange with our reporter, a senior police officer from the FCT Command affirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing and emphasized the necessity of bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The officer stated, “Regardless of his identity or activities, he was a human being who was brutally killed. The Commissioner of Police is deeply concerned as this reflects poorly on the FCT.”
Another senior officer mentioned that a special team has been established to uncover the events leading to the young man’s untimely demise.
“An investigative team has been put together. The Commissioner of Police is personally invested in this case and is determined to unearth the truth behind this young man’s fate,” the officer shared.
The individual, also known as Chantelle and believed to be in his thirties, was reportedly killed on Wednesday night.
Sources close to the incident mentioned that the deceased, known for dressing in women’s clothing on TikTok, had gone live on the social platform before his tragic death.
He was discovered lifeless on Thursday morning on the Katampe-Mabushi Expressway in Abuja, bearing blunt injuries.
In a statement released on Thursday, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, stated that the CP had ordered a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure criminals in the FCT are not shielded.
A distress call received by the Command Control Room on August 08, 2024, around 7.40 am, reported an unidentified person lying motionless along Katampe-Mabushi Expressway. Detectives dispatched to the scene found a man dressed in women’s attire without identification, pronounced dead at Maitama District Hospital after initial assessments.
The State Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, promptly initiated a comprehensive and discreet inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death. Further updates will be provided in due course.”
Close acquaintances of the deceased expressed profound shock over his sudden passing.
In a chat with our reporter on X, a friend who preferred anonymity out of fear of reprisal recounted her disbelief and grief over the incident.
“I spoke to Area Mama that Wednesday night. He mentioned he was heading out. Although the call was unclear, he assured me he would reach out upon his return. He also expressed intentions of visiting someone in Lugbe. It feels unreal how he met such a brutal end,” she lamented.
Another friend, identified as Lewis, disclosed Area Mama’s previous job as a hairstylist before relocating to Abuja. He shared that the cross-dresser had confided in him about online threats from bullies who vowed to kill him if seen in public.
“Their threats have tragically materialized. I implore the police to take action. Chantelle did not deserve to meet such a fate,” Lewis urged.