Police arrest armed robbery gang linked to death of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, Arise News Anchor
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested twelve suspected armed robbers allegedly involved in the violent attack that claimed the life of Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, Arise News Anchor, during a robbery incident in Gishiri, Abuja.
According to a police source, the suspects, all males and one female, were identified as Shamsudeen Hassan from Malumfashi Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State; Hassan Isah, 22, from Zaria, Kaduna State; Abubakar Alkamu, also known as Abba, 27, from Musawa LGA, Katsina State; Sani Sirajo, also known as Dan Borume, 20, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Mashkur Jamilu, also known as Abba, 28, from Igabi LGA, Kaduna State; Suleiman Badamasi, also known as Dan-Sule, 21, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Abdul Salam Saleh, also known as Na-Durudu, from Katsina LGA, Katsina State; Zaharadeen Muhammad, also known as Gwaska, 23, from Chikun LGA, Kaduna State; Musa Adamu, also known as Musa Hassan, 30, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Sumayya Mohammed, also known as Baby, 27, from Saminaka LGA, Kaduna State; Isah Abdulrahman, also known as Abbati, 25, from Zaria LGA, Kaduna State; and Musa Umar, also known as Small, 31, from Maiduguri LGA, Borno State.
Police investigations revealed that four of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other accomplice, were the first to be apprehended after detectives tracked mobile phones stolen from the victims’ apartment.
During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan reportedly confessed to shooting the security guard who attempted to prevent their entry into the compound.
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Sani Sirajo told investigators that he tried to hold Maduagwu as she struggled and fell from the three-storey building during the robbery but was unable to sustain her weight.
Shamsudeen further admitted that he drove away in the white Honda CR-V belonging to the victims after the operation.
The suspects disclosed that each of them received ₦200,000 as their share from the robbery proceeds.
Recovered exhibits from the gang include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, a locally made pistol, a pump-action gun, two live cartridges, four mobile phones belonging to the victims, two sharp knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation.
Further investigation led to the arrest of additional gang members on October 8, 2025.
Acting on a tip-off and actionable digital intelligence, police operatives intercepted suspects Musa Umar (Small), Hassan Isah, and others while en route to another planned robbery operation in the Maitama area of Abuja, scheduled to take place in the early hours of the following morning.
All suspects have reportedly confessed to their roles in the Gishiri robbery and the death of Maduagwu.
As of press time, the FCT Police Command had yet to confirm the arrest. Efforts to reach Josephine Adeh, FCT Police Public Relations Officer, proved abortive, as calls to her phone were declined and messages sent via WhatsApp went unanswered.
