Twelve suspected members of a notorious armed robbery gang responsible for the killing of Arise Television news anchor, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, have been arrested by the police in Abuja.
According to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, the arrests followed a meticulous intelligence-led operation by the Scorpion Squad, headed by ACP Victor Godfrey, in collaboration with Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB Stratoc, which provided digital and reconstructive intelligence that traced the gang’s movements and identities.
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Police said the suspects were part of the armed group that stormed Unique Apartments, located in Gishiri Village, Katampe District, in the early hours of September 29, 2025, at about 3:30 a.m. The violent invasion led to the tragic deaths of Maduagwu and Danlami.
The twelve suspects were identified as Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina), Hassan Isah, 22 (Zaria, Kaduna), Abubakar Alkamu alias Abba, 27 (Musawa LGA, Katsina), Sani Sirajo alias Dan Borume, 20 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina), Mashkur Jamilu alias Abba, 28 (Igabi LGA, Kaduna), and Suleiman Badamasi alias Dan-Sule, 21 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina).
Others include Abdul Salam Saleh alias Na-durudu (Katsina LGA, Katsina), Zaharadeen Muhammad alias Gwaska, 23 (Chikun LGA, Kaduna), Musa Adamu alias Musa Hassan, 30 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina), Sumayya Mohammed alias Baby, 27 (Saminaka LGA, Kaduna), Isah Abdulrahman alias Abbati, 25 (Zaria, Kaduna), and Musa Umar alias Small, 31 (Maiduguri, Borno).
Confession and Recovered Items
During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed to shooting the security guard, Barnabas Danlami, after he attempted to prevent the gang from gaining entry into the building.
Another suspect, Sani Sirajo, admitted that he tried to stop Maduagwu from falling off the third-floor balcony during the chaos but said, “I couldn’t hold her because she was too heavy.”
Police revealed that Hassan also confessed to driving away the stolen white Honda CR-V used as the gang’s getaway vehicle. The suspects reportedly shared ₦200,000 each from the proceeds of the operation.
Recovered from the gang were a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of live ammunition, one pump-action gun, one locally made pistol, two live cartridges, four mobile phones belonging to the victims, two knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the raid.
How They Were Tracked Down
Shortly after the incident, four suspects — including Hassan, Alkamu, and Sirajo — were traced and arrested through the tracking of stolen mobile phones. Further intelligence analysis led investigators to the rest of the gang.
On October 8, 2025, acting on another round of digital intelligence, operatives intercepted the remaining suspects while they were en route to launch another armed robbery attack in Maitama, Abuja.
Police Promise Justice
FCT Police Commissioner described the arrests as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against organised crime in the capital, assuring that all suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
He reiterated the Command’s commitment to ensuring justice for the slain journalist and security guard, promising that the “full weight of the law” would be applied to deter similar acts in the future.
The tragic incident has sparked renewed calls for improved security in Abuja’s residential estates, particularly in highbrow areas like Katampe and Maitama, where organised gangs have recently stepped up attacks.
