The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 12 suspects in connection with the brutal attack that claimed the lives of Arise News journalist Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami , at Unique Apartments in Gishiri Village, Katampe District, Abuja.
The arrests followed a joint operation led by the Scorpion Squad , under the command of ACP Victor Godfrey , using digital and reconstructive intelligence from Giga Forensics , a subsidiary of EIB Strategic
According to the Police, the suspects are:
- Shamsudeen Hassan ‘m’ from Malumfashi LGA Katsina state
- Hassan Isah ‘m’, 22 years from Zaria kaduna State
- Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. abba ‘m’, 27 years from Musawa LGA katsina state
- Sani Sirajo a.k.a. dan borume ‘m’ 20 years from Malumfashi LGA katsina state
- Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. abba ‘m’ 28 years from Igabi LGA kaduna state
- Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. dan-sule ‘m’ 21 years from Malumfashi LGA katsina state
- Abdul Salam saleh a.k.a. na-durudu ‘m’ from katsina lga katsina State
- Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. gwaska ‘m’ 23 years from chikun lga kaduna state
- Musa adamu a.k.a. musa hassan ‘m’ 30 years from malumfashi lga katsina state
- Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. baby ‘m’ 27 years from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna state
- Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. abbati ‘m’, 25 years from Zaria LGA, Kaduna state
- Musa Umar a.k.a. small ‘m’ 31 years from Maiduguri LGA Borno state.
Shortly after the robbery incident, four (4) of the suspects shamsudeen hassan, alkamu, sirajo and one other person were apprehended through the tracking of phones stollen from the apartment during the robbery.
During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed that he shot the security guard when he attempted to prevent them from gaining access to the apartment. Sani Sirajo confessed to have tried to hold Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building but was overwhelmed by her weight. Shamsudeen further confessed that he drove the white honda CR-V jeep out of the apartment after the operation. The four suspects admitted that they each received ₦200,000 from the proceeds of the crime.
Recovered exhibits include:
One (1) fabricated ak-47 rifle
Thirty-six (36) rounds of 9mm live ammunition
One (1) locally made pistol
One (1) pump-action gun
Two (2) live cartridges
Four (4) mobile phones of the victims
Two (2) sharp knives
One (1) cutlass
Nine (9) torchlights used during the operation
In continuation of investigations, yesterday, 08/10/2025, acting on a tip-off and actionable digital intelligence also provided by us, the remaining members of the gang, Musa umar a.k.a. small, Hassan Isah and other accomplices involved in the Gishiri robbery were intercepted while enroute to an already planned armed robbery operation scheduled to hold at maitama in the early hours of this morning.
All suspects have confessed to the crimes, investigation is ongoing.
