The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced a breakthrough in the investigation into the tragic death of Arise News staffer Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, confirming the arrest of 12 suspects allegedly involved in the fatal robbery.
In a statement released Friday, the command detailed a multi-stage operation that led to the capture of the armed robbery gang responsible for the incident on September 29, 2025, at the Unique Apartment complex in Gishiri village, Katampe district. The robbery also claimed the life of a security guard, Mr Barnabas Danlami.
Operatives of the command’s elite Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey, successfully apprehended the suspects based on intelligence provided by the forensic firm Giga Forensics.
The initial arrests of four suspects—Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, and Sani Sirajo, among others—were made shortly after the crime by tracking mobile phones stolen from the victims.
According to the police report, the suspects have made crucial confessions. Shamsudeen Hassan reportedly admitted to fatally shooting the security guard, Mr. Danlami, when he tried to block the gang’s entry. In a harrowing confession, Sani Sirajo claimed he attempted to save Ms. Maduagwu as she fell from the three-storey building but was unable to hold on to her.
The investigation culminated on October 8, 2025, when the remaining members of the gang were intercepted while en route to another planned armed robbery in the Maitama area of Abuja.
A significant cache of weapons and items was recovered from the gang, including:
- One fabricated AK-47 rifle
- One pump-action gun and a locally made pistol
- Thirty-six (36) rounds of live ammunition
- Mobile phones belonging to the victims
- Knives, a cutlass, and other operational tools
The FCT Police Command has confirmed that all twelve suspects have confessed to their involvement in the crimes. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to track down any other accomplices.
