Esther Salifu
Law enforcement in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), police operatives have arrested twelve suspected armed robbers believed to be behind the gruesome attack that claimed the lives of Arise TV journalist Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, at the Unique Apartment in Gishiri village, Katampe District, Abuja.
The suspects, identified as Shamsudeen Hassan, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, Mashkur Jamilu, Suleiman Badamasi, Abdul Salam Saleh, Zaharadeen Muhammad, Musa Adamu, Sumayya Mohammed, Isah Abdulrahman, and Musa Umar, were arrested following days of coordinated operations by the Scorpion Squad led by ACP Victor Godfrey, acting on the directive of the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale.
According to an official intelligence report dated October 9, 2025, the suspects were tracked and apprehended through what authorities described as “actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence” provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC. The operation marks a significant success for the FCT Police Command, which had faced public pressure to bring the perpetrators to justice following the September 29 attack.
Police investigations revealed that a 14-man armed gang invaded the residential building around 3:30 a.m., shooting the security guard before breaking into the compound. In a desperate bid to escape, Maduagwu, 29, reportedly leapt from her third-floor apartment. She was later pronounced dead at Maitama District Hospital.
Initial tracking of stolen mobile phones led detectives to four of the suspects, whose confessions eventually unraveled the wider network behind the robbery.
Recovered items include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, several rounds of live ammunition, knives, and mobile phones belonging to the victims.
In the report, the police noted that four suspects—Hassan, Alkamu, Sirajo, and one other were first apprehended after being traced through stolen phones.
One of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, allegedly confessed to shooting the security guard, while Sirajo claimed he tried to restrain Maduagwu from falling off the building but “was overwhelmed by her weight.”
The suspects reportedly shared ₦200,000 each from the proceeds of the robbery before attempting another planned operation in Maitama, where they were intercepted and arrested on October 8.
Police authorities say efforts are ongoing to capture remaining members of the gang still at large. “All suspects have confessed to the crime. Investigations continue, and further updates will be communicated,” the report stated.
The arrests have drawn mixed reactions from legal practitioners in Abuja.
Human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi commended the police for their swift action but urged immediate prosecution of the suspects. “Delaying their trial will be dishonourable to the victim’s family,” he said.
Another lawyer, Oladotun Hassan, cautioned against a rushed process, insisting on thorough investigation and competent prosecution. “The police must ensure that this case is watertight. Justice delayed is justice denied, but so too is justice mishandled,” he said.
The brutal killing of the young journalist has reignited debate over Abuja’s rising insecurity, particularly in emerging residential areas such as Katampe and Gishiri.
Residents have called for increased police patrols, improved lighting, and tighter access control to estates and apartment complexes.
For now, the FCT Police Command is celebrating a rare victory but for many Abuja residents, the tragedy serves as a painful reminder of how fragile safety remains in Nigeria’s capital.
