The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has apprehended 12 notorious armed robbers believed to be responsible for the brutal murder of Arise TV staff member, Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, alongside a security guard, Mr. Barnabas Danlami, during a robbery incident at Unique Apartment in Gishiri Village, Katampe District, Abuja.
This significant breakthrough followed a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging security agencies to swiftly apprehend the culprits.
Reports indicate that the suspects, taken into custody by operatives of the Scorpion Squad under the leadership of ACP Victor O. Godfrey, were tracked using actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence, following instructions from the Commissioner of Police, FCT, to locate those responsible for the heinous crime.
The robbery transpired on 29 September 2025 at approximately 3:30 a.m., during which both victims were murdered in cold blood.
Among those arrested are: Shamsudeen Hassan from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; 22-year-old Hassan Isah from Zaria, Kaduna State; 27-year-old Abubakar Alkamu (a.k.a. Abba) from Musawa LGA, Katsina State; 20-year-old Sani Sirajo (a.k.a. Dan Borume) from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; 28-year-old Mashkur Jamili (a.k.a. Abba) from Igabi LGA, Kaduna State; 21-year-old Suleiman Badamasi (a.k.a. Dan-Sule) from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Abdulsalam Saleh (a.k.a. Na-Durudu) from Katsina LGA, Katsina State; 23-year-old Zaharadeen Muhammad (a.k.a. Gwaska) from Chikun LGA, Kaduna State; 30-year-old Musa Adamu (a.k.a. Musa Hassan) from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; 27-year-old Sumayya Mohammed (a.k.a. Baby) from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna State; 25-year-old Isah Abdulrahman (a.k.a. Abbati) from Zaria LGA, Kaduna State; and 31-year-old Musa Umar (a.k.a. Small) from Maiduguri LGA, Borno State.
Police sources have disclosed that four of the suspects—Shamsudeen, Hassan, Alkamu, and Sirajo—were initially apprehended shortly after the robbery and admitted their involvement.
During questioning, Shamsudeen confessed to shooting the security guard, Barnabas Danlami, when he attempted to prevent them from entering the premises, while Sirajo admitted to trying to hold Maduagwu as she fell from the third floor but was overpowered by her weight.
Shamsudeen further revealed that he drove away in the victims’ white Honda CR-V after the robbery, with each suspect reportedly receiving ₦200,000 from the proceeds of their crime.
Recovered items from the gang include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, a locally-made pistol, a pump-action shotgun, two live cartridges, four mobile phones, two sharp knives, one cutlass, and nine torches used during the operation.
The police announced further arrests on 8 October when operatives, acting on intelligence, intercepted three gang members, including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah, while they were en route to another planned armed robbery operation in Maitama.
All suspects are currently in custody and have allegedly confessed to their crimes.
