Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested twelve suspected armed robbers in connection with the attack that claimed the life of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, a news anchor and producer with Arise Television.
The tragic incident occurred on September 29, when about fifteen armed men stormed Unique Apartments, a 16-flat, four-storey building in the Katampe area of Abuja.
In a statement made available to journalists, the FCT Commissioner of Police said the suspects were tracked down and arrested in multiple operations between late September and October 8.
“The Command remains resolute in ensuring that every individual involved in this heinous crime faces the full weight of the law. We will not rest until justice is served for the victims and their families,” the CP stated.
The 12 suspects in custody were identified as Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi LGA, 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 Jamili a.k.a. Abba, 28 (Igabi, Kaduna), Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. Dan-Sule, 21 (Malumfashi, Katsina), Abdulsalam Saleh a.k.a. Na-Durudu (Katsina LGA, 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).
Police investigations revealed that four of the suspects, Shamsudeen, Hassan, Alkamu, and Sirajo, were the first to be apprehended shortly after the robbery and made confessional statements detailing their roles.
During interrogation, Shamsudeen reportedly admitted to shooting the security guard, Barnabas Danlami, when he attempted to prevent their entry into the compound. Sirajo also confessed that he tried to grab Maduagwu as she fell from the third floor during the attack but was “overwhelmed by her weight.”
Shamsudeen further revealed that he fled the scene in a victim’s white Honda CR-V, which was later recovered. The suspects confessed to sharing ₦200,000 each from the proceeds of the robbery.
Recovered exhibits included 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 knives, one cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation.
Police operatives, acting on fresh intelligence, made additional arrests on October 8, when three gang members, including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah, were intercepted en route to another planned robbery operation in Maitama.
All suspects are currently in custody and, according to police sources, have confessed to their roles in the crimes.
