By Sarah NEGEDU
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested 12 suspected armed robbers believed to be behind the robbery that claimed the lives of Arise TV anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami.
An internal police report sighted by The Abuja Inquirer revealed that the arrests were made by operatives of the Scorpion Squad led by ACP Victor Godfrey, following weeks of digital surveillance and forensic reconstruction carried out by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of the EIB STRATOC.
According to the report, the attack occurred at Unique Apartment, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, on September 29, 2025, at about 3:30 a.m., when the armed gang stormed the apartment complex, killing the security guard and forcing their way into the victim’s residence.
The assailants reportedly made away with personal belongings, including phones and a white Honda CR-V belonging to the late journalist.
The EIB report stated that, “Operatives of the Scorpion Squad led by ACP Victor Godfrey, acting on actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB Stratoc, has successfully arrested twelve (12) of the armed robbers that were involved in that operation.”
It further disclosed that four suspects, one Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other, were the first to be apprehended after investigators traced mobile phones stolen from the victims during the attack.
“During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed that he shot the security guard when he attempted to prevent them from gaining access to the apartment.
“Sani Sirajo confessed to have tried to hold Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building but was overwhelmed by her weight.”
The report also revealed that “Shamsudeen further confessed that he drove the white Honda CR-V jeep out of the apartment after the operation,” adding that the suspects admitted to receiving N200,000 each from the proceeds of the crime.
Investigators recovered several dangerous weapons and stolen items from the suspects. Exhibits listed in the report include 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 of the victims, two sharp knives, one cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation.
The EIB report noted that the arrests were part of a coordinated operation that extended beyond the Gishiri axis. On October 8, 2025, acting on fresh intelligence, operatives intercepted the remaining members of the gang—including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah—while they were en route to an already planned armed robbery in Maitama, a highbrow area of Abuja.
It added that all twelve suspects, drawn from Katsina, Kaduna, and Borno States, have confessed to their roles in the Gishiri robbery and are currently in custody.
The arrested suspects include: Shamsudeen Hassan, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State;Hassan Isah, 22, from Zaria, Kaduna State;Abubakar Alkamu (a.k.a. Abba), 27, from Musawa LGA, Katsina State; Sani Sirajo (a.k.a. Dan Borume), 20, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Mashkur Jamili (a.k.a. Abba), 28, from Igabi LGA, Kaduna State; Suleiman Badamasi (a.k.a. Dan-Sule), 21, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Abdulsalam Saleh (a.k.a. Na-Durudu), from Katsina LGA, Katsina State;Zaharadeen Muhammad (a.k.a. Gwaska), 23, from Chikun LGA, Kaduna State; Musa Adamu (a.k.a. Musa Hassan), 30, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Sumayya Mohammed (a.k.a. Baby), 27, from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna State;Isah Abdulrahman (a.k.a. Abbati), 25, from Zaria LGA, Kaduna State; and Musa Umar (a.k.a. Small), 31, from Maiduguri LGA, Borno State.
The report concluded: “All suspects have confessed to the crimes, investigation is ongoing, and further developments will be communicated.” It further explained that photographs of the arrested suspects were withheld “till the remaining fleeing members of yesterday’s operation are arrested.”
Recovered exhibits, including one of the AK-47 rifles, were traced to Zuma Rock, according to video evidence attached to the report.
