Somtochukwu Maduagwu, suspects linked to deadly Gishiri Village robbery that left Arise Television journalist and a guard dead, have been arrested by Police.
Police in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested twelve suspects in connection with the killing of Arise Television staff member Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, during a violent robbery in Abuja’s Katampe District.
Authorities said the arrests came after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed security agencies to track down those responsible for the attack, which occurred in the early hours of September 29, 2025, at Unique Apartment in Gishiri Village.
According to security analyst, the suspects were apprehended by operatives of the FCT Police Command’s Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor O. Godfrey. The operation was based on “digital and reconstructive intelligence” that traced the movements and communications of the gang members.
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Police identified the twelve suspects as Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Hassan Isah, 22 (Zaria, Kaduna State), Abubakar Alkamu, 27 (Musawa, Katsina State), Sani Sirajo, 20 (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Mashkur Jamili, 28 (Igabi, Kaduna State), Suleiman Badamasi, 21 (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Abdulsalam Saleh (Katsina LGA, Katsina State), Zaharadeen Muhammad, 23 (Chikun, Kaduna State), Musa Adamu, 30 (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Sumayya Mohammed, 27 (Sammaka, Kaduna State), Isah Abdulrahman, 25 (Zaria, Kaduna State), and Musa Umar, 31 (Maiduguri, Borno State).
Investigators said four of the suspects — Shamsudeen, Hassan, Alkamu, and Sirajo — were arrested shortly after the killings and confessed their involvement. Shamsudeen reportedly admitted to shooting the security guard, while Sirajo said he attempted to grab Somtochukwu as she fell from a third-floor balcony during the chaos.
Police said the gang stole a white Honda CR-V belonging to the victims and shared the proceeds, with each member allegedly receiving ₦200,000. Recovered items included a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of live ammunition, a locally made pistol, a pump-action gun, two cartridges, mobile phones, knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights.
Further arrests were made on October 8 when three suspects, including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah, were intercepted while allegedly planning another robbery in the upscale Maitama area.
FCT Commissioner of Police commended the Scorpion Squad for its swift response, assuring residents that the Command remains committed to tackling violent crime and ensuring safety across the capital.
