The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 12 suspected armed robbers in connection with the violent attack at Unique Apartment, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, Abuja, which led to the deaths of an Arise News staff member, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of September 29, 2025. According to the police, the arrests were made following a coordinated operation by operatives of the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey, acting on detailed digital and forensic intelligence provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB Stratoc.
The suspects were identified as:
- Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
- Hassan Isah, 22 (Zaria, Kaduna State)
- Abubakar Alkamu alias Abba, 27 (Musawa LGA, Katsina State)
- Sani Sirajo alias Dan Borume, 20 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
- Mashkur Jamilu alias Abba, 28 (Igabi LGA, Kaduna State)
- Suleiman Badamasi alias Dan-Sule, 21 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
- Abdul Salam Saleh alias Na-durudu (Katsina LGA, Katsina State)
- Zaharadeen Muhammad alias Gwaska, 23 (Chikun LGA, Kaduna State)
- Musa Adamu alias Musa Hassan, 30 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State)
- Sumayya Mohammed alias Baby, 27 (Saminaka LGA, Kaduna State)
- Isah Abdulrahman alias Abbati, 25 (Zaria LGA, Kaduna State)
- Musa Umar alias Small, 31 (Maiduguri LGA, Borno State)
During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan reportedly confessed to shooting the security guard who attempted to resist the gang’s entry. Sani Sirajo also admitted trying unsuccessfully to stop Maduagwu from falling from a three-storey building during the attack.
The suspects further revealed that each member received ₦200,000 as their share of the loot. Hassan confessed to fleeing the crime scene in a white Honda CR-V belonging to one of the victims.
Recovered items include:
- One fabricated AK-47 rifle
- 36 live rounds of ammunition
- One pump-action gun
- One locally made pistol
- Two cartridges
- Four mobile phones belonging to victims
- Two knives, one cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation
The FCT Police Command assured residents that investigations are ongoing and that all suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
Ends
