The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has disclosed new details regarding the armed gang responsible for the murder of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, revealing that the group sourced its weapons from an arms dealer based in the Niger Republic.
The update follows the arrest of 12 suspects linked to the September 29, 2025 armed robbery and killing at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Abuja, where Maduagwu and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, tragically lost their lives.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the police said preliminary investigations confirmed that the syndicate purchased a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, and a pistol from a cross-border arms supplier who remains at large.
“All the suspects are from Kaduna and Katsina States and have confessed to obtaining their weapons from a yet-to-be-identified supplier in the Niger Republic,” Adeh stated.
The arrested suspects 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).
According to the police, the suspects have confessed to participating in several armed robberies across the FCT — including incidents in Katampe 1, Apo, and Zuba — before the fatal operation that led to Maduagwu’s death.
“They have also confessed to participating in other armed robbery operations at Katampe 1, a hotel in Apo, and another in Zuba, all within the FCT,” Adeh added.
Further findings revealed that Shamsudeen Hassan fired the shot that killed the security guard, Mr. Barnabas Danlami, during the robbery.
How the Police Tracked the Suspects
Following the incident, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Adewale, established a Special Investigation Team led by DCP Aliyu Abubakar and assisted by ACP Victor Godfrey to track and dismantle the criminal network.
Using digital reconstructive intelligence and conducting coordinated raids across Abuja, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States, operatives successfully arrested the suspects and recovered several weapons and stolen items.
Recovered exhibits include:
- One fabricated AK-47 rifle
- 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition
- One locally made pistol
- Two live cartridges
- Four mobile phones belonging to the victims
- Two sharp knives
- One cutlass
- Nine torchlights used during the operation
The FCT Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements, assuring that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.
Ongoing Concern Over Cross-Border Arms
Nigeria continues to grapple with the widespread inflow of illicit small arms and light weapons from neighbouring countries, especially Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
A United Nations report (2016) estimated that of the 500 million illegal weapons circulating in West Africa, about 350 million — roughly 70% — are in Nigeria, posing a serious threat to national security.
“This remains a grave concern for law enforcement, as cross-border arms smuggling continues to fuel violent crimes nationwide,” a senior police officer warned.
