10/10/2025
ARMED ROBBERS BEHIND THE MURDER OF ARISE NEWS STAFF, SOMTOCHUKWU MADUAGWU, ARRESTED
Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigeria Police Force has arrested twelve suspected armed robbers involved in the gruesome robbery and murder of Arise News staff member, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, during a violent attack at her residence in Gishiri, Abuja.
According to police authorities, the suspects were identified as:
1. Shamsudeen Hassan (male) – Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
2. Hassan Isah, 22 – Zaria, Kaduna State
3. Abubakar Alkamu (a.k.a. Abba), 27 – Musawa LGA, Katsina State
4. Sani Sirajo (a.k.a. Dan Borume), 20 – Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
5. Mashkur Jamilu (a.k.a. Abba), 28 – Igabi LGA, Kaduna State
6. Suleiman Badamasi (a.k.a. Dan-Sule), 21 – Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
7. Abdul Salam Saleh (a.k.a. Na-Durudu) – Katsina LGA, Katsina State
8. Zaharadeen Muhammad (a.k.a. Gwaska), 23 – Chikun LGA, Kaduna State
9. Musa Adamu (a.k.a. Musa Hassan), 30 – Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
10. Sumayya Mohammed (a.k.a. Baby), 27 – Saminaka LGA, Kaduna State
11. Isah Abdulrahman (a.k.a. Abbati), 25 – Zaria LGA, Kaduna State
12. Musa Umar (a.k.a. Small), 31 – Maiduguri LGA, Borno State
Police investigations revealed that four of the suspects — Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other accomplice — were first apprehended through the tracking of mobile phones stolen from the victims’ apartment.
During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed to shooting the security guard who attempted to stop them from entering the compound, while Sani Sirajo admitted to struggling to prevent Somtochukwu Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building, but was overpowered by her weight. Shamsudeen also confessed to driving away the victim’s white Honda CR-V after the operation.
The suspects disclosed that each received ₦200,000 as their share from the robbery proceeds.
Recovered exhibits 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
In a continued crackdown, on October 8, 2025, acting on a credible tip-off and digital intelligence, police operatives intercepted the remaining members of the gang — including Musa Umar (a.k.a. Small) and Hassan Isah — while en route to another planned robbery in Maitama, Abuja.
All the suspects have confessed to their involvement in the crimes, and investigations are ongoing.
