Police Arrest 12 Suspects Over Death of Arise TV Journalist in Robbery Attack
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested twelve suspects over the robbery attack in Abuja that claimed the life of Arise Television staff, SOMTOCHUKWU CHRISTELLA MADUAGWU.
The broadcast journalist was killed alongside BARNABAS DANLAMI; a security guard at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Mabushi, where the incident occurred on September 29, 2025.
The suspects, who are between ages twenty and thirty-one, include one SHAMSUDEEN HASSAN who is said to have fired the gunshot that killed BARNABAS DANLAMI.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP BENJAMIN HUNDEYIN, confirmed the development in a text of a media briefing over the weekend, saying that the suspects were arrested by operatives of the FCT Police Command.
“Through diligent efforts and extensive digital intelligence analysis, twelve (12) suspects linked to the robbery have been successfully arrested. They are:
1. Shamsudeen Hassan
2. Hassan Isah, 22 years
3. Abubakar AlKamu a.k.a. Abba, 27 years
4. Sani Sirajo a.k.a. Dan Borume, 20 years
5. Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. Abba, 28 years
6. Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. Dan-Sule, 21 years
7. Abdulsalam Saleh a.k.a. Na-Durudu
8. Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. Gwaska, 23 years
9. Musa Adamu a.k.a. Musa Hassan, 30 years
10. Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. Baby, 27 years
11. Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. Abbati, 25 years
12. Musa Umar a.k.a. Small, 31 years
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include:
i. One (1) locally fabricated AK-47 rifle
ii. One (1) locally made pistol
iii. One (1) pump-action gun
iv. Thirty-six (36) live rounds of 9mm ammunition
v. Two (2) live cartridges
vi. Four (4) mobile phones
vii. Two (2) sharp knives
viii. One (1) cutlass
ix. Two (2) flashlight
The Force Public Relations Officer further noted that “investigations revealed that the fatal shot which claimed the life of the security guard, Mr. Barnabas Danlami, was fired by one of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, who stated that he shot the guard when the latter attempted to prevent them from gaining access to the apartment complex.
“It was further revealed that their firearms were sourced from a yet-to-be-identified supplier in Niger Republic, and that they had taken part in other armed robbery operations within Katampe I, Apo, Zuba, and other parts of the FCT.
CSP HUNDEYIN said the “Nigeria Police Force extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and Mr. Barnabas Danlami, assuring that justice will be pursued to its logical conclusion.”