Police Arrest 12 Suspected Robbers Linked to the Death of Arise News Reporter Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 12 suspected armed robbers believed to be involved in the robbery and killing of Arise News reporter, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu.

According to a statement from the command, the robbery occurred on September 29, 2025, and the suspects were arrested a week later after a coordinated operation by the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor O. Godfrey.

Police sources disclosed that the arrests were made after the suspects were tracked through digital and reconstructive intelligence, which linked them to the crime.

The arrested suspects have been identified as:

• Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi, Katsina State)
• Hassan Isah, 22 (Zaria, Kaduna State)
• Abubakar Alkamu, 27 (Musawa, Katsina State)
• Sani Sirajo, 20 (Malumfashi, Katsina State)
• Mashkur Jamili, 28 (Igabi, Kaduna State)
• Suleiman Badamasi, 21 (Malumfashi, Katsina State)
• Abdulsalam Saleh (Katsina LGA, Katsina State)
• Zaharadeen Muhammad, 23 (Chikun, Kaduna State)
• Musa Adamu, 30 (Malumfashi, Katsina State)
• Sumayya Mohammed, 27 (Sammaka, Kaduna State)
• Isah Abdulrahman, 25 (Zaria, Kaduna State)
• Musa Umar, 31 (Maiduguri, Borno State)

Police investigations revealed that four suspects — Shamsudeen, Hassan, Alkamu, and Sirajo — were the first to be arrested, and during interrogation, they confessed to the crime, leading officers to apprehend the remaining gang members.

One of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, admitted that he drove away the victim’s belongings in a white Honda CR-V used during the operation.

Authorities said that after the robbery, the group shared ₦200,000 each from the proceeds of the crime.

During the arrests, police recovered several items including:

• One fabricated AK-47 rifle
• 36 rounds of live ammunition
• One locally made pistol
• One pump-action gun
• Two cartridges
• Four mobile phones
• Two knives
• A cutlass
• Nine torchlights

The FCT Police Commissioner commended the Scorpion Squad for their swift action and assured the public that all suspects would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

See video below……..