The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 12 suspected armed robbers in connection with the killing of an Arise TV staff member, Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Mr. Barnabas Danlami, during a robbery attack at Katampe District, Abuja.
The arrests followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to security agencies to ensure the swift apprehension of those responsible for the killings.
According to report obtained by Politics Nigeria, the suspects were tracked down through digital and reconstructive intelligence by operatives of the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor O. Godfrey.
The incident occurred in the early hours of September 29, 2025, when armed robbers invaded the apartment and killed the victims.
Those arrested include 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 revealed that four suspects — Shamsudeen, Hassan, Alkamu, and Sirajo — were first arrested shortly after the incident and confessed to their roles. Shamsudeen admitted to shooting the security guard, while Sirajo said he tried to hold Maduagwu as she fell from the third floor.
Shamsudeen also confessed to driving away the victims’ white Honda CR-V after the attack, with the suspects allegedly sharing ₦200,000 each from the proceeds.
Items recovered from the gang include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of live ammunition, one locally made pistol, a 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, including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah, while planning another robbery in Maitama.
The police said all 12 suspects are in custody and have confessed to the crimes.
