The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 12 suspected armed robbers in connection with the brutal killing of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, during an attack at Unique Apartments, Gishiri Village, in the Katampe District of Abuja.
According to Naija News, the tragic incident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. on September 29, plunging both the media community and local residents into shock and mourning.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Police Command confirmed that the arrests followed an order from the FCT Commissioner of Police to track down and capture those responsible for the deadly invasion.
The operation was executed by the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey, with technical support from Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC. Acting on what the police described as “actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence,” the team raided multiple hideouts within the FCT and neighboring states, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
List of Arrested Suspects
The arrested individuals were identified as:
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Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
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Hassan Isah, 22 (Zaria, Kaduna State)
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Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. Abba, 27 (Musawa LGA, Katsina State)
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Sani Sirajo a.k.a. Dan Borume, 20 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
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Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. Abba, 28 (Igabi LGA, Kaduna State)
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Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. Dan-Sule, 21 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
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Abdul Salam Saleh a.k.a. Na-Durudu (Katsina LGA, Katsina State)
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Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. Gwaska, 23 (Chikun LGA, Kaduna State)
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Musa Adamu a.k.a. Musa Hassan, 30 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
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Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. Baby, 27 (Sammaka LGA, Kaduna State)
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Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. Abbati, 25 (Zaria LGA, Kaduna State)
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Musa Umar a.k.a. Small, 31 (Maiduguri LGA, Borno State).
Confessions and Investigation Findings
Investigators revealed that four members of the gang — including Hassan Isah and Abubakar Alkamu — were first traced after using the victims’ stolen mobile phones.
During interrogation, Hassan admitted to shooting security guard Barnabas Danlami after he tried to prevent the robbers from gaining access to the building.
Sirajo, another suspect, reportedly confessed that he had struggled with Ms. Maduagwu during the chaos. He claimed that he attempted to stop her from falling off the three-storey building but said he was “overwhelmed by her weight.”
The police disclosed that the suspects sold off several stolen valuables, with each gang member receiving approximately ₦200,000 as their share of the proceeds.
Recovered Items
Authorities recovered the following items from the suspects:
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One fabricated AK-47 rifle
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36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition
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A locally made pistol
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A pump-action gun
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Two live cartridges
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Four mobile phones belonging to the victims
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Two sharp knives
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A cutlass
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Nine torchlights used during the operation.
The police also confirmed that on October 8, operatives intercepted additional gang members — including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah — who were allegedly en route to carry out another planned robbery in Maitama, Abuja.
“All suspects have confessed to the crimes. Investigation is ongoing, and further developments will be communicated,” the police statement read.
However, the command noted that photographs of the suspects are being withheld to prevent jeopardizing ongoing efforts to capture other fleeing accomplices.
