The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 12 suspected armed robbers in connection with the tragic killing of Arise News anchor and producer, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, during a violent robbery in Abuja.
According to a report published by Arise TV on Thursday, the arrests were carried out by the Scorpion Squad of the FCT Command, following intelligence provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC.
The operation was ordered by the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, after the September 29, 2025, robbery attack at Unique Apartment, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, which occurred around 3:30 a.m.
The suspects were identified as Shamsudeen Hassan, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu (a.k.a. Abba), Sani Sirajo (a.k.a. Dan Borume), Mashkur Jamilu, Suleiman Badamasi (a.k.a. Dan-Sule), Abdul Salam Saleh, Zaharadeen Muhammad, Musa Adamu, Sumayya Mohammed, Isah Abdulrahman, and Musa Umar.
In a statement, the police revealed that four of the suspects — Shamsudeen Hassan, Alkamu, Sirajo, and one other — were initially arrested through phone tracking, after mobile devices stolen from the apartment were traced.
“Shortly after the robbery incident that occurred on 29/09/2025 at about 03:30hrs at Unique Apartment, Katampe District, which led to the deaths of Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and Barnabas Danlami, four suspects were apprehended through tracking and intercept service provided by Giga Forensics,” the statement read.
During interrogation, one of the suspects, Hassan, reportedly confessed to shooting the security guard while attempting to break into the apartment. Another suspect, Sirajo, claimed he tried to prevent Maduagwu from falling off the building during the attack.
Recovered items include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of live ammunition, a locally made pistol, a pump-action gun, two cartridges, four mobile phones belonging to the victims, knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights.
Police said the remaining gang members were intercepted on Wednesday while allegedly heading to carry out another planned robbery in Maitama, Abuja.
All suspects have reportedly confessed to the crime, and investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of their involvement.
Maduagwu, a rising television anchor with Arise News, was killed during the September 29 robbery at her residence. Initial reports suggested she was shot, but later findings indicated she fell from the third floor of her apartment while trying to escape the attackers.
The FCT Police Command has assured the public that all those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
