The Nigeria Police Force has arrested twelve suspects in connection with the gruesome armed robbery that led to the death of Arise News journalist, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, in Abuja.
According to police reports, the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on September 29, 2025, at Unique Apartment in Gishiri Village, Katampe District of the Federal Capital Territory. The victims were attacked during a violent robbery that sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s media community.
Following an order from the FCT Commissioner of Police, operatives of the Scorpion Squad led by ACP Victor Godfrey launched a coordinated operation, acting on what police described as digital and reconstructive intelligence provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC.
The intelligence trail led to the arrest of twelve suspects identified as Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Hassan Isah (Zaria, Kaduna State), Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. Abba (Musawa, Katsina State), Sani Sirajo a.k.a. Dan Borume (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. Abba (Igabi, Kaduna State), Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. Dan-Sule (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Abdul Salam Saleh a.k.a. Na-Durudu (Katsina LGA, Katsina State), Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. Gwaska (Chikun, Kaduna State), Musa Adamu a.k.a. Musa Hassan (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. Baby (Sammaka, Kaduna State), Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. Abbat (Zaria, Kaduna State), and Musa Umar a.k.a. Small (Maiduguri, Borno State).
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Police investigations revealed that four of the suspects; Hassan, Alkamu, Sirajo, and one other were tracked and apprehended hours after the attack through mobile phones stolen from the crime scene. During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan reportedly confessed to shooting the security guard who attempted to stop the robbers from entering the premises.
Sani Sirajo claimed he tried to stop Maduagwu from falling off the third floor but could not hold her. Shamsudeen also admitted to driving away the victims’ white Honda CR-V after the operation. The gang allegedly shared ₦200,000 each from the stolen cash.
Recovered items from the suspects include a modified AK-47 rifle, one pump-action shotgun, a locally made pistol, two sharp knives, a cutlass, four stolen mobile phones, and thirty-six rounds of live 9mm ammunition.
The FCT Police Command has assured the public that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, emphasizing that justice will be served for Somtochukwu Maduagwu, whose death has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls for improved security across Abuja’s suburbs.
