The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned 11 suspects in connection with the murder of Arise News journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, before a court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The FCT Police Command confirmed the arraignment on Wednesday, stating that the suspects are facing a nine-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder.
Maduagwu, an anchor, reporter, and producer with Arise News, was killed in the early hours of September 29, 2025, during a robbery attack at a three-storey residential building, Unique Apartments, located in Katampe Extension, Mabushi area of Abuja. The security guard on duty, Danlami, was also killed during the incident.
Those arraigned include Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar, popularly known as “Small,” Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman.
Confirming the charges, the police said, “The suspects were arraigned on a nine-count charge, including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder.”
According to police accounts, the 29-year-old journalist died after armed men reportedly invaded the apartment complex around 3:30 a.m., moving from one flat to another and dispossessing residents of valuables.
Speaking shortly after the incident, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, said officers who arrived at the scene found Maduagwu unconscious and rushed her to Maitama General Hospital.
“She was immediately taken to the hospital where doctors attempted to resuscitate her, but she sadly did not survive,” Adewale said, describing the killing as “cruel and senseless.”
The police spokesperson in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the robbery syndicate sourced its weapons from an arms dealer operating along the Nigeria–Niger border.
Items recovered from the suspects include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of live ammunition, a locally made pistol, a pump-action gun, cartridges, knives, a cutlass, torchlights, and mobile phones believed to belong to the victims.
Adeh also revealed that the suspects confessed to involvement in other robbery attacks within the FCT, including incidents in Katampe 1, Apo, and Zuba.
Arise Television, in a statement following her death, described Maduagwu as “intelligent, bold, and dedicated,” noting that she joined the station in September 2024. The organisation added that she was passionate about advocacy for out-of-school children and campaigned against sexual and gender-based violence.
The case has been adjourned until February 2026 for further hearing.
Meanwhile, the police have urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicious persons or movements through the Command’s emergency lines,” the police said.
