The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced the arrest of twelve (12) notorious armed robbery suspects linked to the brutal killing of Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, a journalist with ARISE News, and Mr. Barnabas Danlami, a security guard, during a violent robbery at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Mabushi, Abuja, on September 29, 2025.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said the arrests were made following a coordinated intelligence-led operation ordered by the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ajao S. Adewale, psc, mnips.
According to the statement, the CP had constituted a Special Investigation Team headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), DCP Aliyu Abubakar, and assisted by the Commander of the Scorpion Squad, ACP Victor Godfrey. The team was tasked with tracking down and dismantling the criminal syndicate responsible for the heinous attack.
Leveraging what the police described as “digital reconstructive intelligence” and carrying out coordinated raids across the FCT, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States, operatives succeeded in apprehending twelve suspects and recovering several dangerous weapons and items used during the operation.
Items recovered include:
One (1) locally fabricated AK-47 rifle
One (1) locally made pistol
One (1) pump-action gun
Thirty-six (36) live ammunition
Two (2) live cartridges
Four (4) mobile phones
Two (2) knives
One (1) cutlass
One (1) heavy flashlight
The arrested suspects were identified as:
Shamsudeen Hassan ‘m’
Hassan Isah ‘m’, 22yrs
Abubakar Alkamu (aka Abba) ‘m’, 27yrs
Sani Sirajo (aka Dan Borume) ‘m’, 20yrs – gang driver
Mashkur Jamilu (aka Abba) ‘m’, 28yrs
Suleiman Badamasi (aka Dan Sule) ‘m’, 21yrs – provided vehicles for operations
Abdulsalam Saleh (aka Na-Durudu) ‘m’
Zaharadeen Muhammad (aka Gwaska) ‘m’, 23yrs
Musa Adamu (aka Musa Hassan) ‘m’, 30yrs
Sumayya Mohammed (aka Baby) ‘f’, 27yrs
Isah Abdulrahman (aka Abbati) ‘m’, 25yrs
Musa Umar (aka Small) ‘m’, 31yrs
SP Adeh revealed that all the suspects are indigenes of Kaduna and Katsina States. Preliminary investigations indicate that the gang has been involved in a series of armed robberies, kidnappings, and violent crimes within Abuja and neighboring states.
The Commissioner of Police commended the operatives for their swift action and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring justice for the victims and safety for residents of the FCT.
He further assured that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
The tragic murder of Ms. Maduagwu, a respected ARISE News journalist, and Mr. Danlami had sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice across Nigeria’s media and human rights communities.
The FCT Police Command reiterated its resolve to rid the capital of violent criminal elements and restore public confidence in law enforcement efforts
