The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arraigned 11 suspects in connection with the killing of Arise News journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami during a deadly robbery at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Abuja, on September 29, 2025.
The suspects are facing a nine-count charge, including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder. The attack occurred around 3:30 a.m., with armed men reportedly moving from flat to flat, robbing residents of valuables.
FCT Police Commissioner Ajao Adewale said officers responded immediately after receiving a distress call.
“Policemen moved to the scene and found her lying unconscious. She was immediately taken to Maitama General Hospital, where doctors attempted resuscitation using CPR, but sadly, she could not be saved,” he said.
Investigations revealed that Maduagwu jumped from the third floor of her apartment while trying to escape the attackers. Danlami, the security guard on duty, was shot during the robbery, allegedly by one of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan.
During the operation, police recovered a locally made AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, a pistol, 36 rounds of live ammunition, two cartridges, knives, a cutlass, nine torchlights, and four mobile phones belonging to the victims.
Police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh said the suspects, all from Kaduna and Katsina states, were arrested through coordinated operations across the FCT, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states by a Special Investigation Team from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). Investigators used digital reconstructive intelligence to trace the gang, which was also linked to robberies in Katampe 1, Apo, and Zuba.
“Preliminary investigations indicate the gang obtained their firearms from an as-yet-unidentified supplier in the Niger Republic, operating across the Nigeria–Niger border,” Adeh added.
Those 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 other suspects—Sumayya Mohammed (aka ‘Baby’), Isah Abdulrahman (aka ‘Abbati’), and Musa Adamu (aka ‘Musa Hassan’)—are still under investigation, with further arrests expected.
The case has been adjourned to February 2026 for continued proceedings.
The FCT Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities through emergency lines, and assured the public of its commitment to justice and safety.
