The Nigeria Police Force has arrested twelve people suspected of taking part in the violent robbery that claimed the life of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, in Gishiri, Abuja.
According to media sources, the suspects — eleven men and one woman — were arrested across different parts of Abuja and neighbouring states.
They were identified as Shamsudeen Hassan from Malumfashi, Katsina; Hassan Isah, 22, from Zaria; Abubakar Alkamu, 27, also from Katsina; Sani Sirajo, 20; Mashkur Jamilu, 28; Suleiman Badamasi, 21; Abdul Salam Saleh; Zaharadeen Muhammad, 23; Musa Adamu, 30; Sumayya Mohammed, 27; Isah Abdulrahman, 25; and Musa Umar, 31.
How the police tracked the killers
Investigators reportedly traced the gang through mobile phones stolen from the victims’ apartment. Four of the suspects — Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other — were the first to be caught.
During interrogation, Shamsudeen reportedly confessed that he shot the security guard who tried to stop them from entering the compound.
Sani Sirajo told detectives that he “tried to hold Maduagwu as she struggled and fell from the three-storey building” but couldn’t keep his grip.
Shamsudeen also admitted that he “drove away in the white Honda CR-V belonging to the victims after the operation.”
The suspects confessed to sharing ₦200,000 each from the robbery proceeds.
Recovered exhibits included a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a locally made pistol, a pump-action gun, two live cartridges, four stolen phones, two knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation.
Second wave of arrests
More members of the gang were arrested on October 8, 2025, after police received a tip-off and tracked their movements using digital intelligence.
They were intercepted while on their way to another planned robbery in Maitama, scheduled for the following morning.
All twelve suspects have reportedly confessed to their roles in the Gishiri robbery and the death of the Arise News presenter.
As of press time, the FCT Police Command had not officially confirmed the arrests.
Efforts to reach its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, were unsuccessful, as calls and WhatsApp messages went unanswered.
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