- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has reportedly arrested 12 suspected notorious armed robbers in connection to the death of Arise TV journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Mr. Barnabas Danlami, during a robbery operation at her residence.
NPO Reported that Maduagwu had tragically jumped to her death last week Monday after the gang of robbers stormed the Unique Apartment in, Gishiri Village, Katampe District of Abuja, where she resided.
While the media personality had initially survived the fall, she was however pronounced dead hours after the first hospital she was rushed to rejected her.
Danlami on the other was shot by one of the armed robbers after reluctance to open the gate to the residential apartment.
In the wake of the incident, President Bola Tinubu had charged security agencies to fish out the killers.
The suspects, as reported by Arise TV were arrested by operatives of the Scorpion Squad led by ACP Victor O. Godfrey.
They were tracked through actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence, following a directive by the Commissioner of Police, FCT, to fish out the culprits.
The arrested suspects include: Shamsudeen Hassan, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Hassan Isah, 22, from Zaria, Kaduna State; Abubakar Alkamu (a.k.a. Abba), 27, from Musawa LGA, Katsina State; Sani Sirajo (a.k.a. Dan Borume), 20, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; and Mashkur Jamili (a.k.a. Abba), 28, from Igabi LGA, Kaduna State.
Others include Suleiman Badamasi (a.k.a. Dan-Sule), 21, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Abdulsalam Saleh (a.k.a. Na-Durudu), from Katsina LGA, Katsina State; Zaharadeen Muhammad (a.k.a. Gwaska), 23, from Chikun LGA, Kaduna State; and Musa Adamu (a.k.a. Musa Hassan), 30, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State.
Also arrested were Sumayya Mohammed (a.k.a. Baby), 27, from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna State; Isah Abdulrahman (a.k.a. Abbati), 25, from Zaria LGA, Kaduna State; and Musa Umar (a.k.a. Small), 31, from Maiduguri LGA, Borno State.
While there is no official confirmation from the police, sources said four of the suspects Shamsudeen, Hassan, Alkamu and Sirajo were initially apprehended shortly after the robbery and confessed to their involvement.
During interrogation, Shamsudeen admitted shooting the security guard, Barnabas Danlami, when he tried to stop them from entering the premises, while Sirajo confessed that he tried to hold Maduagwu as she fell from the third floor but was overwhelmed by her weight.
Shamsudeen further confessed that he drove away the victims’ white Honda CR-V after the operation. The suspects revealed that they each received ₦200,000 from the proceeds of the crime.
Recovered exhibits from the gang include: one fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, one locally-made pistol, one pump-action gun, two live cartridges, four mobile phones, two sharp knives, one cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation.
The police said further arrests were made on the 8th of October, when operatives acting on intelligence intercepted three of the gang members including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah while on their way to another planned armed robbery operation in Maitama.
All the suspects are in custody and have reportedly confessed to the crimes.
Sources said that Commissioner of Police commended the Scorpion Squad for their swift action and assured residents that the command would sustain its aggressive operations to rid the FCT of violent criminals.