By Ade Martins-
The Nigeria Police Force says it has uncovered credible leads on the gun suppliers who armed the suspects allegedly responsible for the killing of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu.(pictured)
Ms Maduagwy died on September 29th, after she jumped from the third floor of her apartment complex in Abuja Nigeria, having seriously panicked when armed robbers targeting her apartment shot dead a security guard who tried to confront them.
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Police say they have recovered one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action rifle, a locally made pistol, 36 rounds of 9mm ammunition, two live cartridges, four mobile phones, two knives, one cutlass, and two flashlights from the suspects.
The news comes as the Federal Capital Territory Police Command earlier announced the arrest of 12 suspects in connection with the September 29, 2025, robbery and murder at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Abuja, where Maduagwu and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, were killed.
The gang was said to have sourced their weapons from a supplier in Niger Republic.Those arrested 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).
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He said the police recovered one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action rifle, a locally made pistol, 36 rounds of 9mm ammunition, two live cartridges, four mobile phones, two knives, one cutlass, and two flashlights from the suspects.
Giving an update on Saturday while parading nine of the suspects in Abuja, Force spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said investigators had identified the locations of some of the gunrunners linked to the gang and would soon make arrests.
“We are yet to arrest a suspect in that regard, but we have very credible leads we are working on. We already know the location of some of the gunrunners and suppliers, and we assure Nigerians that in our subsequent updates, we will be able to tell you how far we have come,” Hundeyin said.
Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday at the FCT Police Command Headquarters, Garki, Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the arrests followed a “coordinated, intelligence-driven investigation” launched immediately after the incident.
The fatal shot that killed the security guard, Mr Danlami, was fired by one of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, after the guard reportedly attempted to prevent the gang from gaining access to the apartment complex.
The Force spokesperson further disclosed that the suspects sourced their weapons from a supplier in Niger Republic and had been involved in other armed robbery operations across Katampe I, Apo, Zuba, and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
While expressing condolences to the families and colleagues of the deceased victims, the Force PRO reaffirmed the police’s commitment to ensuring justice.
“The Force remains resolute in ensuring that all individuals connected to this grievous crime are prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he said.
An evening of tributes in her honour will be held on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at the THISDAY Dome, Central Business District, Abuja. This will be followed by a service of songs on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the Corpus Christi Cathedral, Kaduna Street, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The late news anchor is to be buried on October 18th.
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