The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has apprehended twelve individuals suspected of involvement in the fatal armed robbery that killed Arise TV staff member Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami. The robbery occurred on 29 September 2025 at approximately 3:30 a.m. in Unique Apartment, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, Abuja.
The arrests followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu ordering security agencies to identify and detain those responsible for the killings. Operatives from the Scorpion Squad, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Victor O. Godfrey, used digital and reconstructive intelligence to track the suspects. The twelve men, who come from various states including Katsina, Kaduna and Borno, have been identified as Shamsudeen Hassan, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, Mashkur Jamili, Suleiman Badamasi, Abdulsalam Saleh, Zaharadeen Muhammad, Musa Adamu, Sumayya Mohammed, Isah Abdulrahman and Musa Umar.
Police sources say four of the suspects were captured shortly after the incident and confessed to their roles. Shamsudeen Hassan allegedly admitted shooting the security guard, while Sani Sirajo claimed he tried to hold Maduagwu as she fell from the third floor. Each suspect reportedly received N200,000 from the robbery’s proceeds, which also included the theft of a white Honda CR‑V. Recovered items from the gang include a fabricated AK‑47 rifle, live ammunition, a locally‑made pistol and various other weapons and tools.
Further arrests were made on 8 October 2025 when operatives intercepted three gang members planning another robbery in Maitama. The FCT Commissioner of Police praised the Scorpion Squad for its swift action and assured residents that the Command will continue to target violent crime in the territory. All twelve suspects are currently in custody and have confessed to the crimes, underscoring law‑enforcement’s commitment to addressing and preventing violent crime in the region.
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