Twelve suspected armed robbers have been taken into custody by the Federal Capital Territory, or FCT, Police Command in connection with the murders of a security guard, Mr. Barnabas Danlami, and an employee of Arise TV, Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, during a robbery attack at Unique Apartment, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu ordered security forces to capture the murderers, and this led to the arrests.
After being located using digital and reconstructive information, the suspects were taken into custody by Scorpion Squad members under the command of ACP Victor O. Godfrey, according to a report by counterinsurgency specialist Zagazola Makama.
The murders took place during a heist at the victims’ home on September 29, 2025, beginning at around 3:30 am.
Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Hassan Isah (22 (Zaria, Kaduna State), Abubakar Alkamu (27 (Musawa, Kaduna State), Sani Sirajo (20 (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Mashkur Jamili (28 (Igabi, Kaduna State), Suleiman Badamasi (21 (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Abdulsalam Saleh (Katsina LGA, Katsina State), Zaharadeen Muhammad (23 (Chikun, Kaduna State), Musa Adamu (30 (Malumfashi, Katsina State), Sumayya Mohammed (27 (Sammaka, Kaduna State), Isah Abdulrahman (25 (Zaria, Kaduna State), and Musa Umar (31) (Maiduguri, Borno State).
Four suspects, Shamsudeen, Hassan, Alkamu, and Sirajo, were initially detained soon after the incident and admitted their responsibilities, according to police sources.
Sirajo asserted that he attempted to hold Maduagwu as she fell from the third level, while Shamsudeen allegedly acknowledged shooting the security man.
Shamsudeen also admitted to leaving the victims’ white Honda CR-V behind following the procedure. According to reports, the culprits divided N200,000 among themselves from the robbery’s earnings.
One fake AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of live ammo, one handgun built locally, one pump-action gun, two cartridges, four cell phones, two knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights were among the goods recovered from the group.
On October 8, 2025, officers arrested three gang members, including Hassan Isah and Musa Umar, while they were preparing a new heist in Maitama.
According to the police, all 12 suspects have admitted to the offenses and are currently being held.
In addition to praising the Scorpion Squad for their prompt response, the FCT Commissioner of Police gave locals the assurance that the Command would continue to fight violent crime in the area.
