Police Arrest Suspects Over Killing of Arise TV News Anchor

Police Arrest Suspects Over Killing of Arise TV News Anchor

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 12 suspects allegedly involved in a deadly robbery that claimed the lives of Arise TV News staff member Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami in Abuja.

According to a report published Thursday on Arise TV’s website, the arrests were made following a targeted operation led by the Scorpion Squad under the FCT Command. The operation was based on intelligence provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC.

Arise stated that the FCT Commissioner of Police launched a manhunt for the suspects after the September 29, 2025, attack at Unique Apartment in Gishiri Village, Katampe District, which occurred around 3:30 a.m.

The statement noted that the Scorpion Squad, headed by ACP Victor Godfrey, made the arrests using digital and reconstructive intelligence supplied by Giga Forensics.

The 12 suspects taken into custody include Shamsudeen Hassan, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu (aka Abba), Sani Sirajo (aka Dan Borume), Mashkur Jamilu, Suleiman Badamasi (aka Dan-Sule), Abdul Salam Saleh, Zaharadeen Muhammad, Musa Adamu, Sumayya Mohammed, Isah Abdulrahman, and Musa Umar.

The statement reads: “It is important to note that shortly after the robbery incident that took place 29/09/2025 at about 0330hrs at unique apartment, Katampe district, Mabushi, which tragically led to the deaths of Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and Barnabas Danlami, four (4) of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, Alkamu, Sirajo and one other person were apprehended through the tracking of phones stolen from the apartment during the robbery (Tracking and intercept service provided by us).”

During interrogation, Hassan admitted to shooting the security guard while attempting to gain entry, while Sirajo claimed he tried to prevent Maduagwu from falling off the building during the chaos.

Recovered items from the suspects include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of live ammunition, a locally made pistol, a pump-action shotgun, two cartridges, four mobile phones belonging to the victims, knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights.

Police further disclosed that the remaining suspects were intercepted on Wednesday en route to another planned robbery in Maitama, Abuja. All suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement, and investigations are ongoing.

Maduagwu, who worked as an anchor and producer for Arise News, died in the early hours of September 29 during the robbery at her residence in Gishiri, Katampe District.

The attackers reportedly stormed the apartment, assaulted residents, and killed the estate’s security guard. Contrary to initial reports suggesting she was shot, police investigations revealed that Maduagwu fell from the third floor while attempting to escape.