Police Arrest 12 Suspects Over ARISE News Staff Somtochukwu’s Murder

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 12 suspected armed robbers allegedly responsible for the gruesome killing of Arise News Channel staff member, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, during a robbery attack in Abuja.

LEADERSHIP reports that the incident occurred in the early hours of September 29, 2025, at Unique Apartment, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, where the victims were murdered in cold blood.

According to police sources, the arrests followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu, who had ordered security agencies to track down and apprehend the killers. Acting on the presidential directive, operatives of the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor O. Godfrey, launched a coordinated operation that relied on “actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence.”

In a statement made available to journalists, the FCT Commissioner of Police said the suspects were tracked down and arrested in multiple operations between late September and October 8.

“The Command remains resolute in ensuring that every individual involved in this heinous crime faces the full weight of the law. We will not rest until justice is served for the victims and their families,” the CP stated.

The 12 suspects in custody were identified as Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina), Hassan Isah, 22 (Zaria, Kaduna), Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. Abba, 27 (Musawa, Katsina), Sani Sirajo a.k.a. Dan Borume, 20 (Malumfashi, Katsina), Mashkur Jamili a.k.a. Abba, 28 (Igabi, Kaduna), Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. Dan-Sule, 21 (Malumfashi, Katsina), Abdulsalam Saleh a.k.a. Na-Durudu (Katsina LGA, Katsina), Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. Gwaska, 23 (Chikun, Kaduna), Musa Adamu a.k.a. Musa Hassan, 30 (Malumfashi, Katsina), Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. Baby, 27 (Sammaka, Kaduna), Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. Abbati, 25 (Zaria, Kaduna), and Musa Umar a.k.a. Small, 31 (Maiduguri, Borno).

Police investigations revealed that four of the suspects, Shamsudeen, Hassan, Alkamu, and Sirajo, were the first to be apprehended shortly after the robbery and made confessional statements detailing their roles.

During interrogation, Shamsudeen reportedly admitted to shooting the security guard, Barnabas Danlami, when he attempted to prevent their entry into the compound. Sirajo also confessed that he tried to grab Maduagwu as she fell from the third floor during the attack but was “overwhelmed by her weight.”

Shamsudeen further revealed that he fled the scene in a victim’s white Honda CR-V, which was later recovered. The suspects confessed to sharing ₦200,000 each from the proceeds of the robbery.

Recovered exhibits included one fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, one locally made pistol, one pump-action gun, two live cartridges, four mobile phones, two knives, one cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation.

Police operatives, acting on fresh intelligence, made additional arrests on October 8, when three gang members, including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah, were intercepted en route to another planned robbery operation in Maitama.

All suspects are currently in custody and, according to police sources, have confessed to their roles in the crimes.

“This case is a tragic reminder of the need for vigilance, but it also demonstrates the capacity of our security agencies to deliver swift justice when properly supported,” a senior police officer told reporters under condition of anonymity.

The police said the suspects would be arraigned in court upon completion of investigations.