FCT Police Arraign 11 Over Killing Of Arise News Journalist In Abuja Robbery
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arraigned 11 suspects in connection with the killing of Arise News journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, during a violent robbery at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Abuja, on September 29, 2025.
The suspects face a nine-count charge including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder. The attack reportedly occurred around 3:30 a.m., when armed assailants allegedly moved from flat to flat, robbing residents of their valuables.
FCT Police Commissioner Ajao Adewale said officers responded promptly after receiving a distress call from the area.
“Policemen moved to the scene and found her lying unconscious. She was immediately taken to Maitama General Hospital, where doctors tried to resuscitate her using CPR, but sadly, she could not make it,” Adewale stated.
Investigations revealed that Maduagwu had jumped from the third floor in a desperate attempt to escape the attackers. Danlami, who was on duty as a security guard, was shot during the incident, allegedly by one of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan.
Police recovered several items during the operation, including a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, a pistol, 36 rounds of live ammunition, two cartridges, knives, a cutlass, four mobile phones belonging to the victims, and nine torchlights.
Police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh said the suspects, all natives of Kaduna and Katsina states, were arrested through coordinated operations in the FCT, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states by a Special Investigation Team from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). She added that digital reconstructive intelligence was used to track the gang, which was also linked to previous robberies in Katampe 1, Apo, and Zuba.
“Preliminary investigations indicated the gang obtained their firearms from an as-yet-unidentified supplier in the Niger Republic,” Adeh said, noting that the arms dealer operates across the Nigeria–Niger border.
The suspects arraigned include Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar (aka ‘Small’), Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman. Police noted that additional suspects — Sumayya Mohammed (aka ‘Baby’), Isah Abdulrahman (aka ‘Abbati’), and Musa Adamu (aka ‘Musa Hassan’) — are still being investigated, and more arrests may follow.
The case has been adjourned to February 2026 for further proceedings.
The FCT Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious movements through emergency lines, and assured the public of its commitment to justice and safety.
