Police arrest 12 suspects over killing of Arise TV staff, Somtochukwu in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested twelve suspected armed robbers allegedly responsible for the deaths of Arise TV staff member Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and a security guard, Mr. Barnabas Danlami, during a robbery at Unique Apartment, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, Abuja.

Their arrest came in response to President Bola Tinubu’s directive to security agencies to track down those behind the killings.

According to counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama, the suspects were captured by operatives of the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor O. Godfrey, following a digital and reconstructive intelligence operation.

The tragic incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on September 29, 2025, when the robbers attacked the residence, killing both victims.

Those arrested 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).

Police sources disclosed that four suspects Shamsudeen, Hassan, Alkamu, and Sirajo were first picked up shortly after the attack and confessed to participating in the crime.

Shamsudeen reportedly admitted to shooting the security guard, while Sirajo claimed he attempted to hold Maduagwu as she fell from the third floor. Shamsudeen also confessed to driving away the victims’ white Honda CR-V, which the gang later sold, sharing N200,000 each from the proceeds.

Items recovered from the suspects include one fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 live rounds of ammunition, one locally made pistol, one pump-action gun, two cartridges, four mobile phones, two knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights.

Further arrests were made on October 8, 2025, when operatives intercepted three gang members among them Musa Umar and Hassan Isah while plotting another robbery in Maitama.

The police confirmed that all twelve suspects are in custody and have confessed to their involvement in the crimes.

Commending the operatives for their swift response, the FCT Commissioner of Police pledged that the Command would intensify operations against violent crime to ensure the safety of residents.