The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has apprehended 12 suspected armed robbers in connection to the killing of an Arise News staff member, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, during a robbery attack in Abuja.
According to a report on Arise TV’s website on Thursday, the arrests were made after an operation organized by the Scorpion Squad under the FCT Police Command, based on intelligence from Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC.
According to Arise, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, launched a manhunt for the culprits after the September 29, 2025, attack at Unique Apartment in Gishiri Village, Katampe District. The attack occurred about 3:30 a.m.
The Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey, arrested the suspects based on digital and reconstructive intelligence provided by Giga Forensics, an EIB STRATOC subsidiary.
According to the article, 12 people were arrested in connection with the incident.
They include Shamsudeen Hassan, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu (also known as Abba), Sani Sirajo (also known as Dan Borume), Mashkur Jamilu, Suleiman Badamasi (also known as Dan-Sule), Abdul Salam Saleh, Zaharadeen Muhammad, Musa Adamu, Sumayya Mohammed, Isah Abdulrahman, and Musa Umar.
The statement partly read, “It is important to note that shortly after the robbery incident that took place on 29/09/2025 at about 0330 hrs at the unique apartment in the Katampe district, Mabushi, which tragically led to the deaths of Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and Barnabas Danlami, four (4) of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, Alkamu, Sirajo and one other person,Sirajo, were apprehended through the tracking of phones stolen from the apartment during the robbery (tracking and intercept service provided by us).”
During interrogation, Hassan admitted to shooting the security guard while attempting to gain entrance, and Sirajo stated he tried to save Maduagwu from falling off the building during the attack.
A forged AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of live ammo, a locally built handgun, a pump-action gun, two cartridges, four victims’ mobile phones, knives, a cutlass, and nine flashlights were among the items found from the suspects.
According to police, the remaining gang members were apprehended on Wednesday while reportedly on their way to another planned heist in Maitama, Abuja.
According to the article, the suspects have confessed to the crime, and the investigation is ongoing.
Maduagwu, an Arise News presenter and producer, was killed in the early hours of September 29, 2025, during a robbery at her home in the Gishiri section of Katampe District in Abuja.
The attackers apparently broke into the apartment, attacked the residents, and killed Barnabas Danlami, the estate’s security guard.
According to police accounts, Maduagwu fell from the third floor of her building while attempting to flee the burglars, contradicting earlier accusations that she was shot.
