By Peter Omopo | Abuja | October 9, 2025
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 12 suspects in connection with the armed robbery that led to the tragic death of Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, a staff member of Arise News, during an attack at her Gishiri residence in Abuja.
In a statement released on Wednesday by Police spokesperson Lere Olayinka, the suspects were identified as:
- Shamsudeen Hassan (male) – Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Hassan Isah (22, male) – Zaria, Kaduna State
- Abubakar Alkamu (alias Abba) (27, male) – Musawa LGA, Katsina State
- Sani Sirajo (alias Dan Borume) (20, male) – Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Mashkur Jamilu (alias Abba) (28, male) – Igabi LGA, Kaduna State
- Suleiman Badamasi (alias Dan-Sule) (21, male) – Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Abdul Salam Saleh (alias Na-Durudu) (male) – Katsina LGA, Katsina State
- Zaharadeen Muhammad (alias Gwaska) (23, male) – Chikun LGA, Kaduna State
- Musa Adamu (alias Musa Hassan) (30, male) – Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Sumayya Mohammed (alias Baby) (27, female) – Sammaka LGA, Kaduna State
- Isah Abdulrahman (alias Abbati) (25, male) – Zaria LGA, Kaduna State
- Musa Umar (alias Small) (31, male) – Maiduguri LGA, Borno State.
How They Were Caught
According to the police, four suspects — Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and another gang member — were the first to be arrested after investigators tracked mobile phones stolen from Maduagwu’s apartment during the robbery.
During interrogation, Hassan confessed to shooting the security guard who tried to stop them from gaining entry into the residence. Sirajo, on his part, admitted he attempted to prevent Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building during the raid but was “overwhelmed by her weight.”
Shamsudeen further confessed to driving away the victim’s white Honda CR-V after the operation. The suspects also disclosed that they each received ₦200,000 from the proceeds of the robbery.
Items Recovered
Recovered exhibits from the suspects 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
Further Arrests
Police said that on October 8, 2025, acting on actionable intelligence, operatives intercepted additional members of the gang — including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah — while they were allegedly on their way to carry out another armed robbery planned for the Maitama area of Abuja.
“All suspects have confessed to the crimes, and investigation is ongoing,” the police statement read.
The arrests come after days of public outrage and calls for justice following the death of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, whose tragic passing has sparked renewed debate about security in the Federal Capital Territory.
