The Nigeria Police have arrested twelve suspects allegedly involved in the brutal armed robbery that led to the tragic death of Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, a young ARISE News anchor and producer, who died during an invasion of her Katampe residence in Abuja on September 29, 2025.
According to a police statement, the suspects—comprising men and one woman—were rounded up in a coordinated intelligence-led operation spanning Katsina, Kaduna, and Borno States.
The arrested suspects include:
Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
Hassan Isah, 22 (Zaria, Kaduna State)
Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. Abba, 27 (Musawa LGA, Katsina State)
Sani Sirajo a.k.a. Dan Borume, 20 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. Abba, 28 (Igabi LGA, Kaduna State)
Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. Dan-Sule, 21 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
Abdul Salam Saleh a.k.a. Na-Durudu (Katsina LGA, Katsina State)
Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. Gwaska, 23 (Chikun LGA, Kaduna State)
Musa Adamu a.k.a. Musa Hassan, 30 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. Baby, 27 (Sammaka LGA, Kaduna State)
Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. Abbati, 25 (Zaria LGA, Kaduna State)
Musa Umar a.k.a. Small, 31 (Maiduguri LGA, Borno State).
Police sources revealed that shortly after the deadly robbery, four suspects—Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other—were initially arrested through the tracking of mobile phones stolen from the victims’ apartment.
During interrogation, Shamsudeen confessed to shooting the security guard who tried to prevent their entry into the compound, while Sirajo admitted that he attempted to restrain Somtochukwu from falling off the three-storey building but was overwhelmed by her weight. Shamsudeen further revealed that he drove away the victim’s white Honda CR-V after the operation.
Each of the four initial suspects reportedly received ₦200,000 as their share from the robbery proceeds.
Recovered exhibits include:
One (1) fabricated AK-47 rifle
Thirty-six (36) rounds of 9mm live ammunition
One (1) locally made pistol
One (1) pump-action gun
Two (2) live cartridges
Four (4) stolen mobile phones
Two (2) sharp knives
One (1) cutlass
Nine (9) torchlights used during the operation
Police authorities confirmed that on October 8, 2025, acting on a tip-off and digital intelligence, the remaining members of the gang—Musa Umar a.k.a. Small, Hassan Isah, and others—were intercepted en route to another planned robbery operation in Maitama, Abuja.
All suspects have confessed to their involvement in the Gishiri robbery that claimed the life of the ARISE News journalist. The police added that investigations are ongoing and that justice will be pursued to its fullest extent.