Citypost News Desk
In a major breakthrough, the Nigeria Police Force has apprehended 12 suspects linked to the violent robbery that led to the death of Arise News staff, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu.
According to the police, the suspects are:
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 reports revealed that four of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other were initially arrested through the tracking of phones stolen from the victims’ apartment.
During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed to shooting the security guard who tried to prevent the gang from entering the building, while Sani Sirajo admitted attempting to stop Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building during the attack but was overwhelmed by her weight.
Hassan further confessed to driving away the stolen white Honda CR-V used in the operation.
The suspects revealed that each received ₦200,000 from the proceeds of the crime.
Recovered exhibits include:
One fabricated AK-47 rifle
36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition
One locally made pistol
One pump-action gun and two live cartridges
Four mobile phones belonging to the victims
Two sharp knives, one cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation.
Further investigations led to the arrest of additional gang members, including Musa Umar a.k.a. Small and Hassan Isah, who were intercepted on October 8, 2025, while en route to another planned robbery in Maitama, Abuja.
Police authorities confirmed that all suspects have confessed to their involvement, while investigations continue to ensure justice for the slain journalist and her family.
