Somtochukwu: Police Arrest 12 Suspects!

Sele Media Africa
www.selemedia.org
Reported by David Joshua | Sele Media Africa

In a significant breakthrough, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has apprehended 12 suspected armed robbers in connection with the tragic killing of Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, a staff member at Arise News, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami. [1]

The suspects were arrested following coordinated operations by the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey, leveraging digital and reconstructive intelligence supplied by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB Stratoc. [2]

Among the arrested are:

• Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State) [1]
• Hassan Isah, 22, from Zaria, Kaduna State [3]
• Abubakar Alkamu, alias Abba, 27 (Musawa, Katsina) [1]
• Sani Sirajo, alias Dan Borume, 20 (Malumfashi, Katsina) [1]
• Mashkur Jamilu, alias Abba, 28 (Igabi, Kaduna) [1]
• Suleiman Badamasi, alias Dan‑Sule, 21 (Malumfashi) [1]
• Abdul Salam Saleh, alias Na‑Durudu (Katsina) [1]
• Zaharadeen Muhammad, alias Gwaska, 23 (Chikun, Kaduna) [1]
• Musa Adamu, alias Musa Hassan, 30 (Malumfashi) [1]
• Sumayya Mohammed, alias Baby, 27 (Saminaka, Kaduna) [1]
• Isah Abdulrahman, alias Abbati, 25 (Zaria, Kaduna) [1]
• Musa Umar, alias Small, 31 (Maiduguri, Borno) [1]

Police reports indicate the crime occurred in the early hours of September 29, 2025, around 3:30 a.m., when the gang attacked Unique Apartments, Gishiri Village, Katampe District in Abuja. [3]

During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed to shooting the security guard as he tried to stop them from entering the premises. [1]

Another suspect, Sani Sirajo, admitted trying to prevent Somtochukwu from falling from the building during the robbery, but claimed he failed due to her weight. [1]

Hassan also confessed to driving away the victim’s white Honda CR-V following the crime. [4]

Recovered evidence from the suspects includes:

• A fabricated AK-47 rifle
• 36 rounds of live ammunition
• A pump-action gun
• A locally made pistol
• Four mobile phones belonging to victims
• Two knives, one cutlass
• Nine torchlights used during the operation [4]

The police said four of the suspects—Hassan, Alkamu, Sirajo, and another—were initially arrested after their phones were traced. The rest were detained on October 8, 2025, while they were allegedly en route to another planned robbery in Maitama, Abuja. [2]

All twelve suspects have reportedly confessed to their roles in the crimes. Investigations continue to locate any fleeing accomplices and prosecute those involved. [2]

Citations:

1. Vanguard News: www.vanguardngr.com/2025/10/somtochukwu-police-arrest-12-suspects/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. ThisDayLive: www.thisdaylive.com/2025/10/09/police-arrest-12-suspects-over-death-of-arise-news-anchor-somtochukwu-maduagwu/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. TheCable: www.thecable.ng/just-in-police-arrest-12-suspected-armed-robbers-linked-to-death-of-arise-tv-anchor/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
4. Vanguard News: www.vanguardngr.com/2025/10/police-arrest-12-suspected-armed-robbers-behind-murder-of-arise-news-staff-security-guard-in-abuja/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

About The Author