Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police have apprehended 12 suspects linked to the armed robbery that killed Arise News anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami at Unique Apartments, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, Abuja, in the early hours of September 29.
The arrests followed a directive from the FCT Commissioner of Police to track down those responsible. The operation, led by ACP Victor Godfrey of the Scorpion Squad and based on intelligence from Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC, saw suspects captured in various locations across the FCT and neighbouring states.
The suspects include Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi, Katsina), Hassan Isah, 22 (Zaria, Kaduna), Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. Abba, 27 (Musawa, Katsina), Sani Sirajo a.k.a. Dan Borume, 20 (Malumfashi, Katsina), Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. Abba, 28 (Igabi, Kaduna), Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. Dan-Sule, 21 (Malumfashi, Katsina), Abdul Salam Saleh a.k.a. Na-Durudu (Katsina, Katsina), Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. Gwaska, 23 (Chikun, Kaduna), Musa Adamu a.k.a. Musa Hassan, 30 (Malumfashi, Katsina), Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. Baby, 27 (Sammaka, Kaduna), Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. Abbati, 25 (Zaria, Kaduna), and Musa Umar a.k.a. Small, 31 (Maiduguri, Borno).
Investigations revealed that four suspects, including Hassan and Alkamu, were traced after using the victims’ stolen phones. Hassan allegedly admitted to shooting Danlami when he resisted the gang, while Sirajo reportedly tried to stop Maduagwu from falling during the attack.
Police said stolen items were sold, with each gang member reportedly receiving N200,000. Recovered evidence includes a fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, a locally made pistol, 36 rounds of 9mm ammunition, two live cartridges, four victim phones, two knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights.
Authorities also intercepted additional suspects, including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah, reportedly en route to another robbery in Maitama, Abuja.
“All suspects have confessed to the crimes. Investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided,” the FCT Police said, adding that photos of the suspects are being withheld to protect efforts to apprehend other fleeing accomplices.