By Silvernews Metro Desk
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested twelve suspected armed robbers in connection with the brutal robbery and killing of Arise News staff, Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Mr. Barnabas Danlami, at Unique Apartment, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, Abuja. The tragic incident occurred on September 29, 2025, at about 3:30 a.m.
The breakthrough followed the directive of the FCT Commissioner of Police for the immediate arrest of those responsible. Acting on actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC, operatives of the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey, apprehended the suspects during coordinated operations across several states.
Those arrested include:
Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
Hassan Isah, 22 (Zaria, Kaduna State)
Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. Abba, 27 (Musawa LGA, Katsina State)
Sani Sirajo a.k.a. Dan Borume, 20 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. Abba, 28 (Igabi LGA, Kaduna State)
Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. Dan-Sule, 21 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
Abdul Salam Saleh a.k.a. Na-Durudu (Katsina LGA, Katsina State)
Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. Gwaska, 23 (Chikun LGA, Kaduna State)
Musa Adamu a.k.a. Musa Hassan, 30 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. Baby, 27 (Sammaka LGA, Kaduna State)
Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. Abbati, 25 (Zaria LGA, Kaduna State)
Musa Umar a.k.a. Small, 31 (Maiduguri LGA, Borno State).
According to police sources, four of the suspects — Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other — were first apprehended after investigators tracked mobile phones stolen from the victims during the robbery.
During interrogation, Hassan confessed to shooting the security guard, Mr. Danlami, when he attempted to resist their entry. Sirajo reportedly admitted that he tried to prevent Ms. Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building but was unable to hold her weight. Hassan also confessed to driving away the victims’ white Honda CR-V after the operation.
The suspects disclosed that each received ₦200,000 as their share of the proceeds from the robbery.
Recovered exhibits include:
One fabricated AK-47 rifle
Thirty-six rounds of 9mm live ammunition
One locally made pistol
One pump-action gun
Two live cartridges
Four mobile phones belonging to the victims
Two sharp knives
One cutlass
Nine torchlights used during the operation
In a follow-up operation on October 8, 2025, acting on further digital intelligence, police operatives intercepted additional members of the gang — including Musa Umar a.k.a. Small and Hassan Isah — while they were en route to a planned armed robbery in Maitama, Abuja.
All suspects have reportedly confessed to the crimes. The FCT Police Command said investigations are ongoing, with efforts intensified to track down the remaining fleeing gang members.
Photographs of the arrested suspects are being withheld pending the conclusion of the ongoing operations.
Recovered exhibits and a video of one of the AK-47 rifles retrieved at Zuma Rock have been forwarded to the Command for forensic analysis.
