The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 12 suspects linked to the armed robbery incident that led to the death of Arise News staff, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, in Abuja.

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The suspects were identified as:

  1. Shamsudeen Hassan, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
  2. Hassan Isah, 22, from Zaria, Kaduna State
  3. Abubakar Alkamu (a.k.a. Abba), 27, from Musawa LGA, Katsina State
  4. Sani Sirajo (a.k.a. Dan Borume), 20, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
  5. Mashkur Jamilu (a.k.a. Abba), 28, from Igabi LGA, Kaduna State
  6. Suleiman Badamasi (a.k.a. Dan-Sule), 21, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
  7. Abdul Salam Saleh (a.k.a. Na-Durudu), from Katsina LGA, Katsina State
  8. Zaharadeen Muhammad (a.k.a. Gwaska), 23, from Chikun LGA, Kaduna State
  9. Musa Adamu (a.k.a. Musa Hassan), 30, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
  10. Sumayya Mohammed (a.k.a. Baby), 27, from Saminaka LGA, Kaduna State
  11. Isah Abdulrahman (a.k.a. Abbati), 25, from Zaria LGA, Kaduna State
  12. Musa Umar (a.k.a. Small), 31, from Maiduguri LGA, Borno State.

Police disclosed that four of the suspects — Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other — were initially arrested through the tracking of mobile phones stolen from the victims’ apartment.

During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed to shooting the security guard who attempted to prevent their entry, while Sani Sirajo admitted trying to hold Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building but was unable to due to her weight. Shamsudeen also confessed to driving away the stolen white Honda CR-V used in the escape. The suspects admitted receiving ₦200,000 each from the proceeds of the robbery.

Recovered items from the gang include:

One fabricated AK-47 rifle

Thirty-six rounds of 9mm live ammunition

One locally made pistol

One pump-action gun with two live cartridges

Four stolen mobile phones

Two sharp knives and one cutlass

Nine torchlights used during the operation.

Further investigations led to the arrest of other gang members on October 8, 2025. Acting on a tip-off and digital intelligence, police intercepted Musa Umar (a.k.a. Small), Hassan Isah, and others while en route to another planned robbery operation in Maitama, Abuja.

All suspects have reportedly confessed to the crimes, while investigations continue.