Some of the recovered weapons
By Abdul Hassan
The police command in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja has announced the arrest of 18 suspects who allegedly carried out an armed robbery attack on a private residential estate in Katampe area of Abuja that culminated in the death of Arise News female journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu on Sept. 29.
According to the Police, all the suspects have confessed to the crime, while investigation is ongoing to arrest other accomplices.
The police disclosed that shortly after the robbery incident, four of the suspects were apprehended through the tracking of the cellphones which they stole from the apartments during the robbery.
During interrogation, one of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, confessed that he shot the security guard when he attempted to prevent them from gaining access to the apartment.
Another suspect, 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 a white color Honda CR-V Jeep out of the estate after the operation.
The four suspects admitted that they each received ₦200,000 from the proceeds of the crime.
“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,” the police said in a statement.
“Recovered exhibits 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,” the police added.
The police listed the suspects as follows:
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.
