The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested 12 notorious armed robbers believed to be responsible for the brutal killing of an Arise TV staff, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, during a robbery incident at Unique Apartments, Gishiri Village in Katampe District of Abuja.
The arrest followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to security agencies to apprehend the killers.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Scorpion Squad of the FCT Police Command, led by ACP Victor Godfrey.
They were said to be tracked through actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence, following a directive by the Commissioner of Police, FCT, to fish out the culprits.
The robbery occurred on September 29, 2025, at about 3:30 am, during which the Arise TV presenter, Somtochukwu and a security guard, Barnabas, were killed.
The arrested suspects included: Shamsudeen Hassan, from Malumfashi LGA of Katsina State; Hassan Isah, 22, from Zaria, Kaduna State; Abubakar Alkamu, also known as Abba, 27, from Musawa LGA of Katsina State; Sani Sirajo, a.k.a. Dan Borume, 20, from Malumfashi LGA of Katsina State and Mashkur Jamili, a.k.a. Abba, 28, from Igabi LGA, Kaduna State.
Others were Suleiman Badamasi,a.k.a. Dan-Sule, 21, from Malumfashi LGA of Katsina State; Abdulsalam Saleh, a.k.a. Na-Durudu, from Katsina LGA of Katsina State; Zaharadeen Muhammad, a.k.a. Gwaska, 23, from Chikun LGA of Kaduna State; Musa Adamu, a.k.a. Musa Hassan, 30, from Malumfashi LGA of Katsina State; Sumayya Mohammed, a.k.a. Baby, 27, from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna State.
Also are Isah Abdulrahman, a.k.a. Abbati, 25, from Zaria LGA, Kaduna State; and Musa Umar, a.k.a. Small, 31, from Maiduguri LGA, Borno State. They are made up of an all-male gang.
Police sources said four of the suspects, Shamsudeen, Hassan, Alkamu and Sirajo, were initially apprehended shortly after the robbery and confessed to their involvement.
During interrogation, Shamsudeen admitted to shooting the security guard, Barnabas Danlami, when he tried to stop them from entering the premises. At the same time, Sirajo confessed that he tried to hold Maduagwu as she fell from the third floor but was overwhelmed by her weight.
Shamsudeen further confessed that he drove away the victims’ white Honda CR-V after the operation. The suspects revealed that they each received ₦200,000 from the proceeds of the crime.
Recovered exhibits from the gang include: one fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, one locally-made pistol, one pump-action gun, two live cartridges, four mobile phones, two sharp knives, one cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation.
The Police said further arrests were made on October 8, when operatives acting on intelligence intercepted three of the gang members, including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah, while on their way to another planned armed robbery operation in Maitama.
The Police said all the suspects are in custody and have reportedly confessed to the crimes.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, who commended the Scorpion Squad for their swift action, has assured residents of the FCT that the command would sustain its aggressive operations to rid the nation’s capital of violent criminals.
