JUST IN: POLICE ARREST 12 SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN DEADLY ROBBERY THAT CLAIMED LIVES OF ARISE NEWS STAFF AND SECURITY GUARD IN ABUJA (VIDEO)

The Police in the Federal Capital Territory have arrested twelve suspects involved in the armed robbery incident that led to the tragic deaths of Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, a staff of Arise News, and Barnabas Danlami, a security guard, at Unique Apartment, Gishiri village, Katampe district, Abuja, on September 29, 2025. The operation was led by ACP Victor Godfrey of the Scorpion Squad, acting on actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC.

The suspects arrested are Shamsudeen Hassan from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Hassan Isah, 22, from Zaria, Kaduna State; Abubakar Alkamu, 27, from Musawa LGA, Katsina State; Sani Sirajo, 20, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Mashkur Jamilu, 28, from Igabi LGA, Kaduna State; Suleiman Badamasi, 21, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Abdul Salam Saleh from Katsina LGA, Katsina State; Zaharadeen Muhammad, 23, from Chikun LGA, Kaduna State; Musa Adamu, 30, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Sumayya Mohammed, 27, from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna State; Isah Abdulrahman, 25, from Zaria LGA, Kaduna State; and Musa Umar, 31, from Maiduguri LGA, Borno State.

Shamsudeen Hassan confessed during interrogation that he shot the security guard, Barnabas Danlami, when he attempted to prevent the gang’s access to the apartment. Sani Sirajo confessed to trying to hold Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building but was overwhelmed by her weight. Shamsudeen Hassan also stated he drove the white Honda CR-V jeep out of the apartment after the operation. The four suspects initially apprehended admitted each received ₦200,000 from the crime proceeds.

Recovered exhibits include one fabricated AK-47 rifle, thirty-six rounds of 9mm live ammunition, one locally made pistol, one pump-action gun, two live cartridges, four mobile phones of the victims, two sharp knives, one cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation. “Shortly after the robbery incident, four of the suspects were apprehended through tracking of phones stolen from the apartment,” according to the report citing tracking and intercept services provided by Giga Forensics.

The remaining suspects were intercepted on October 8, 2025, while en route to a planned armed robbery operation in Maitama, Abuja, acting on a tip-off and digital intelligence. All suspects have confessed to the crimes. Investigations are ongoing, with further developments to be communicated. Pictures of the suspects are withheld until remaining fleeing members are arrested. Exhibits recovered include weapons linked to the crime, with video evidence of recovery of one AK47 rifle at Zuma Rock.