The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 12 suspected armed robbers in connection with the gruesome killing of Arise News anchor Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, at Unique Apartments, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, Abuja.

The tragic incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on September 29, sending shockwaves through the media industry and the Abuja community.

In a statement on Wednesday, the police said the arrests followed a directive from the FCT Commissioner of Police to track and apprehend all those responsible for the attack.

The operation, carried out by the Scorpion Squad led by ACP Victor Godfrey, was based on what the police described as “actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence” provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC.

The suspects were arrested across various hideouts in the FCT and neighbouring states and have been identified as:

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).

According to investigators, some suspects were tracked after using the victims’ stolen phones. During interrogation, Hassan reportedly confessed to shooting the security guard, while Sirajo admitted struggling with Ms. Maduagwu during the attack, claiming he tried to stop her from falling but was “overwhelmed.”

The gang allegedly sold some of the stolen items, with each member receiving ₦200,000 as their share.

Recovered items include:

One fabricated AK-47 rifle

36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition

One locally made pistol

One pump-action gun

Two live cartridges

Four mobile phones belonging to the victims

Two knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights used in the operation.

The command said additional suspects, including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah, were later intercepted on October 8 while allegedly planning 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 photographs of the arrested suspects are being withheld to avoid compromising ongoing operations to arrest other fleeing accomplices.