ABUJA: The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 12 suspected armed robbers linked to the killing of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, during a violent robbery in Abuja.
According to a statement by Arise News on Thursday, the arrests followed a coordinated operation by the Scorpion Squad of the FCT Command, acting on intelligence provided by forensic firm Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, had ordered a manhunt for the assailants following the September 29, 2025, attack at Unique Apartments in Gishiri Village, Katampe District, which occurred around 3:30 a.m.
The police said operatives, led by ACP Victor Godfrey, arrested the suspects using actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence supplied by Giga Forensics.
Those arrested include Shamsudeen Hassan, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu (aka Abba), Sani Sirajo (aka Dan Borume), Mashkur Jamilu, Suleiman Badamasi (aka Dan-Sule), Abdul Salam Saleh, Zaharadeen Muhammad, Musa Adamu, Sumayya Mohammed, Isah Abdulrahman, and Musa Umar.
A police statement said, Shortly after the robbery incident on 29/09/2025 at about 0330hrs at Unique Apartment, Katampe District, Mabushi, which tragically led to the deaths of Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and Barnabas Danlami, four suspects Shamsudeen Hassan, Alkamu, Sirajo, and another were arrested through the tracking of phones stolen during the attack. The tracking and intercept service was provided by Giga Forensics.
During interrogation, Hassan confessed to shooting the security guard while attempting to gain entry, while Sirajo claimed he tried to stop Maduagwu from falling off the building as she attempted to escape.
Recovered items include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of live ammunition, a locally made pistol, a pump-action gun, two cartridges, four mobile phones belonging to the victims, knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights.
Police said the remaining gang members were intercepted on Wednesday while allegedly en route to another planned robbery in Maitama, Abuja.
All suspects reportedly confessed to the crime, and investigations are ongoing.
Maduagwu, a producer and anchor with Arise News, died after falling from the third floor of her apartment in Gishiri while fleeing the robber’s contrary to initial reports that she was shot. The estate’s security guard, Danlami, was also killed during the invasion.
