By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested 12 suspects in connection with the killing of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, a news anchor and producer with Arise Television.
Maduagwu, popularly known as Sommie, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, were killed during a robbery attack at Unique Apartments, a 16-flat building in the Katampe area of Abuja, on September 29.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said operatives of the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey, tracked and arrested the suspects using actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC.
Four suspects — Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other — were first arrested after investigators traced the victims’ mobile phones to them. During interrogation, Hassan reportedly confessed to shooting the security guard who tried to prevent the robbers from entering the apartment. Sirajo admitted attempting to stop Maduagwu from falling off the building but claimed she was “too heavy” for him to hold.
The suspects allegedly sold the stolen property and shared the proceeds, with each receiving about ₦200,000. Items recovered from them 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 knives, one cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation.
Further intelligence led to the arrest of additional gang members — including Musa Umar (alias Small) and Hassan Isah — on October 8, while they were reportedly on their way to carry out another robbery in Maitama, Abuja.
“All suspects have confessed to the crimes. Investigation is ongoing, and further developments will be communicated,” the police said, adding that the photos of the suspects are being withheld to avoid jeopardizing efforts to apprehend fleeing members of the gang.
Suspects List:
1. Shamsudeen Hassan (Katsina)
2. Hassan Isah, 22 (Kaduna)
3. Abubakar Alkamu, 27 (Katsina)
4. Sani Sirajo, 20 (Katsina)
5. Mashkur Jamilu, 28 (Kaduna)
6. Suleiman Badamasi, 21 (Katsina)
7. Abdul Salam Saleh (Katsina)
8. Zaharadeen Muhammad, 23 (Kaduna)
9. Musa Adamu, 30 (Katsina)
10. Sumayya Mohammed, 27 (Kaduna)
11. Isah Abdulrahman, 25 (Kaduna)
12. Musa Umar, 31 (Borno)