Abuja Attack: Police Arrest 12 Suspects Over ARISE News Anchor’s death-the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has revealed that the weapons used by an armed group during a fatal attack in Abuja were obtained from a dealer operating out of the Niger Republic.
In a statement released on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed that twelve suspects had been arrested in connection with the September 29, 2025 robbery and murder incident at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, in Abuja.
According to police findings, the attack claimed the lives of ARISE News anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami. Danlami was shot on the spot, while Maduagwu reportedly jumped from her apartment window in a desperate attempt to escape but later died from her injuries.
Adeh stated that preliminary investigations showed the gang purchased their weapons — including a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, and a pistol — from an illegal arms dealer who operates along the Nigeria–Niger Republic border.
“All the suspects hail from Kaduna and Katsina States and have admitted to sourcing their guns from a still-unidentified supplier in the Niger Republic,” Adeh confirmed.
The suspects were identified as 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).
Police said the group had confessed to several previous armed robberies across the FCT, including incidents in Katampe 1, Apo, and Zuba, before the deadly Katampe operation.
“Further investigation confirmed that it was Shamsudeen Hassan who fired the fatal shot that killed the security guard,” Adeh added.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao S. Adewale, ordered a comprehensive investigation and created a Special Investigation Team led by DCP Aliyu Abubakar and supported by ACP Victor Godfrey of the Scorpion Squad.
Through a combination of digital intelligence and coordinated field operations across Abuja, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States, the team successfully tracked and arrested all members of the syndicate.
Adeh advised residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity through the FCT Police emergency hotlines.
Nigeria continues to battle the influx of illicit small arms from neighbouring countries, particularly Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. The United Nations, in a 2016 report, estimated that about 350 million of the 500 million illegal weapons circulating in West Africa were located within Nigeria — representing nearly 70 per cent of the regional total.
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