Ten days after the tragic death of Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu, a news anchor and producer with Arise Television, the Nigeria Police Force has arrested 12 suspects linked to the armed robbery that led to her death in Abuja.
Maduagwu was killed in the early hours of September 29 when gunmen broke into her residence in the Katampe area of the Federal Capital Territory. A private security guard attached to the building also lost his life during the attack.
In a statement issued on Thursday, police authorities confirmed that all 12 suspects are in custody and have confessed to their involvement in the crime.
According to the police, four of the suspects were initially apprehended after investigators tracked mobile phones stolen from the residence.
One of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, reportedly admitted to shooting the security guard who tried to resist their entry, while another, Sani Sirajo, claimed he attempted to stop Maduagwu from falling off a storey building but was overpowered by her weight.
The arrested suspects include:
- Shamsudeen Hassan, Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Hassan Isah, 22, Zaria, Kaduna State
- Abubakar Alkamu (alias Abba), 27, Musawa LGA, Katsina State
- Sani Sirajo (alias Dan Borume), 20, Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Mashkur Jamilu (alias Abba), 28, Igabi LGA, Kaduna State
- Suleiman Badamasi (alias Dan-Sule), 21, Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Abdul Salam Saleh (alias Na-Durudu), Katsina LGA, Katsina State
- Zaharadeen Muhammad (alias Gwaska), 23, Chikun LGA, Kaduna State
- Musa Adamu (alias Musa Hassan), 30, Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Sumayya Mohammed (alias Baby), 27, Saminaka LGA, Kaduna State
- Isah Abdulrahman (alias Abbati), 25, Zaria LGA, Kaduna State
- Musa Umar (alias Small), 31, Maiduguri LGA, Borno State
Police say investigations are ongoing to recover more stolen items and determine whether additional suspects were involved.
Governor Charles Soludo had earlier described Maduagwu as “a shining star whose death is a huge loss to the media and the nation.”
