The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced a major breakthrough in the September 29, 2025, armed robbery and murder case that claimed the lives of ARISE News anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Abuja.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed the following details upon the arrest of 12 suspects linked to the crime:
- Foreign Arms Source: Preliminary investigation revealed that the criminal syndicate sourced its firearms—including a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, and a pistol—from an unidentified supplier operating across the Nigeria–Niger Republic border.
- Suspects’ Origin: All arrested suspects hail from Kaduna and Katsina States and have confessed to procuring their weapons from this foreign source.
- The Shooter Identified: Further investigation confirmed that one of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, fired the fatal shot that killed the security guard, Barnabas Danlami.
- Confessed Operations: The gang confessed to carrying out multiple armed robberies across the FCT, including prior operations at Katampe 1, a hotel in Apo, and another location in Zuba.
The Police Operation
Following the tragic incident, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao S. Adewale, immediately established a Special Investigation Team led by DCP Aliyu Abubakar.
- Methodology: The team used digital reconstructive intelligence to track and dismantle the criminal network.
- Scope: Coordinated operations were successfully carried out across the FCT, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States, leading to the apprehension of the suspects.
- Suspects Listed: The arrested individuals include Shamsudeen Hassan, Hassan Isah (22), Abubakar Alkamu (27), Sani Sirajo (20), Mashkur Jamilu (28), Suleiman Badamasi (21), Abdulsalam Saleh, Zaharadeen Muhammad (23), Musa Adamu (30), Sumayya Mohammed (27), Isah Abdulrahman (25), and Musa Umar (31).
Context: Proliferation of Illicit Arms
This case highlights Nigeria’s long-standing struggle with the influx of illicit small arms and light weapons from neighboring countries like Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. The United Nations raised concerns in 2016, estimating that approximately 350 million of the 500 million illicit weapons circulating in West Africa were concentrated within Nigeria.
The police have urged residents to remain vigilant and utilize their emergency lines to report suspicious activity.
