Police make breakthrough in death of Arise TV Staff, arrest suspected robbers
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has disclosed there is a major breakthrough in the investigation into the death of Arise TV staff, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, who tragically lost her life during a robbery attack at her Gishiri apartment, Kamtepe, Abuja.
According to police reports, twelve suspects have been arrested in connection with the robbery that claimed the young journalist’s life.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects stormed the apartment on the fateful night, armed with guns, machetes, and other dangerous weapons. In a desperate attempt to protect the residents, the security guard was shot by Shamsudeen Hassan, who later confessed to pulling the trigger.
During interrogation, the same suspect admitted to driving away in the white Honda CR-V jeep stolen from the compound after the operation.
Another suspect, Sani Sirajo, confessed that he tried to stop Somtochukwu from falling off the three-storey building as she struggled to escape the attackers — but said he was “overwhelmed by her weight.”
In the aftermath of the attack, police operatives were able to track some of the phones stolen from the victims, leading to the arrest of four of the suspects — Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other.
Their confessions opened the trail that eventually led to the capture of the rest of the gang.
Crime
News
Robbery Gang Behind Death Of Arise News Anchor, Sommie Maduagwu Arrested
October 9, 2025
Victor Oriola
The armed robbers involved in the incident that led to the death of Arise News staff, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, have been arrested.
According to the Police, the suspects are:
1. Shamsudeen Hassan ‘m’ from Malumfashi LGA Katsina state
2. Hassan Isah ‘m’, 22 years from Zaria kaduna State
3. Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. abba ‘m’, 27 years from Musawa LGA katsina state
4. Sani Sirajo a.k.a. dan borume ‘m’ 20 years from Malumfashi LGA katsina state.
5. Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. abba ‘m’ 28 years from Igabi LGA kaduna state.
6. Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. dan-sule ‘m’ 21 years from Malumfashi LGA katsina state.
7. Abdul Salam saleh a.k.a. na-durudu ‘m’ from katsina lga katsina State.
8. Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. gwaska ‘m’ 23 years from chikun lga kaduna state.
9. Musa adamu a.k.a. musa hassan ‘m’ 30 years from malumfashi lga katsina state.
10. Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. baby ‘m’ 27 years from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna state.
11. Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. abbati ‘m’, 25 years from Zaria LGA, Kaduna state .
12. Musa Umar a.k.a. small ‘m’ 31 years from Maiduguri LGA Borno state.
Shortly after the robbery incident, four (4) of the suspects shamsudeen hassan, alkamu, sirajo and one other person were apprehended through the tracking of phones stollen from the apartment during the robbery.
During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed that he shot the security guard when he attempted to prevent them from gaining access to the apartment.
Sani Sirajo confessed to have tried to hold Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building but was overwhelmed by her weight.
Shamsudeen further confessed that he drove the white honda CR-V jeep out of the apartment after the operation.
The four suspects admitted that they each received ₦200,000 from the proceeds of the crime.
Exhibits recovered 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) mobile phones of the victims, Two (2) sharp knives, One (1) cutlass Nine (9) torchlights used during the operation.
“In continuation of investigations, yesterday, 08/10/2025, acting on a tip-off and actionable digital intelligence also provided by us, the remaining members of the gang, Musa umar a.k.a. small, Hassan Isah and other accomplices involved in the Gishiri robbery were intercepted while enroute to an already planned armed robbery operation scheduled to hold at Maitama in the early hours of this morning.
“All suspects have confessed to the crimes, investigation is ongoing,” police said.
