The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command has revealed that it has arrested 12 suspected armed robbers affiliated to the killing of an Arise TV staff member, Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Mr. Barnabas Danlami, during a robbery attack at Unique Apartment, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, Abuja.
The arrests were made following calls by significant leaders and President Bola Tinubu’s directive to security agencies to apprehend those behind Somtochukwu’s demise.
The suspects were apprehended by members of the Scorpion Squad, under the command of ACP Victor O. Godfrey, after being located via digital and reconstructive intelligence, according to a report by counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama.
Recall that the tragic incident occurred during a robbery at their home on September 29, 2025, at approximately 3:30 in the morning.
The suspects were identified as Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Hassan Isah, 22 (Zaria, Kaduna State), Abubakar Alkamu, 27 (Musawa, Katsina State), Sani Sirajo, 20 (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Mashkur Jamili, 28 (Igabi, Kaduna State), Suleiman Badamasi, 21 (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Abdulsalam Saleh (Katsina LGA, Katsina State), Zaharadeen Muhammad, 23 (Chikun, Kaduna State), Musa Adamu, 30 (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Sumayya Mohammed, 27 (Sammaka, Kaduna State), Isah Abdulrahman, 25 (Zaria, Kaduna State), and Musa Umar, 31 (Maiduguri, Borno State).
Four suspects, Shamsudeen, Hassan, Alkamu, and Sirajo, were first captured soon after the incident and admitted to their actions, according to police sources.
Sirajo stated that Shamsudeen attempted to restrain Maduagwu as she fell from the third level, while Shamsudeen apparently acknowledged shooting the security man.
Additionally, Shamsudeen admitted to driving the victims’ white Honda CR-V away following the procedure. According to reports, the suspects split N200,000 between them from the robbery’s earnings.
According to reports, one fake AK-47 rifle, thirty-six rounds of live ammo, one locally manufactured handgun, one pump-action gun, two cartridges, four cell phones, two knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights were among the goods recovered from the gang.
Further arrests were made on October 8, 2025, when operatives apprehended three gang members, including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah, while planning another robbery in Maitama.
The police further revealed that all 12 suspects are in custody and have confessed to other crimes including the robbery and subsequent death of Somtochukwu.
The FCT Commissioner of Police assured residents that the Command would continue to fight violent crime in the area and praised the Scorpion Squad for their prompt action.
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