October 09, (THEWILL) — The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 12 suspected armed robbers connected to the robbery incident that led to the tragic death of Arise News staff, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, in Gishiri, Abuja.
A statement shared on Thursday on social media by Lere Olayinka. Media Spokesperson to the FCT Minister, identified the suspects as Shamsudeen Hassan from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina; Hassan Isah, 22, from Zaria, Kaduna; Abubakar Alkamu (a.k.a. Abba), 27, from Musawa LGA, Katsina; Sani Sirajo (a.k.a. Dan Borume), 20, from Malumfashi, Katsina; Mashkur Jamilu (a.k.a. Abba), 28, from Igabi LGA, Kaduna; Suleiman Badamasi (a.k.a. Dan-Sule), 21, from Malumfashi, Katsina; Abdul Salam Saleh (a.k.a. Na-Durudu), from Katsina LGA; Zaharadeen Muhammad (a.k.a. Gwaska), 23, from Chikun LGA, Kaduna; Musa Adamu (a.k.a. Musa Hassan), 30, from Malumfashi, Katsina; Sumayya Mohammed (a.k.a. Baby), 27, from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna; Isah Abdulrahman (a.k.a. Abbati), 25, from Zaria LGA, Kaduna; and Musa Umar (a.k.a. Small), 31, from Maiduguri LGA, Borno State.
Somtochukwu, widely known as Sommie, was murdered during an armed robbery at her Katampe residence in Abuja in the early hours of Monday, September 29, 2025.
Police disclosed that four of the suspects— Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other, were first arrested through the tracking of phones stolen from the victims during the operation.
During interrogation, Shamsudeen confessed to shooting a security guard who attempted to stop them from entering the building, while Sirajo admitted he tried to prevent Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building, but was overwhelmed. Shamsudeen also revealed that he drove away in the stolen white Honda CR-V used by the gang. The suspects further admitted that each received N200,000 from the loot.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, a locally made pistol, a pump-action gun with two cartridges, four mobile phones belonging to the victims, two sharp knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights used in the operation.
Continuing the investigation, police operatives, on October 8, intercepted more members of the gang, including Musa Umar (a.k.a. Small) and Hassan Isah, while they were on their way to carry out another planned robbery in Maitama, Abuja.
All suspects have reportedly confessed to their involvement, while investigations are still ongoing.
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