Sh*cking Twist!” – Police Drop Fresh Update On Brutal Murder Of Arise News Anchor

Police Reveal Niger Republic Connection in Murder of Arise News Anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has disclosed that the armed gang responsible for the murder of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, obtained its weapons from an arms dealer operating out of the Niger Republic.

The revelation came on Friday, following the arrest of 12 suspects linked to the September 29, 2025, robbery and killing at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Abuja, where Maduagwu and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, were shot dead.

According to a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, preliminary investigations revealed that the gang sourced its arsenal — including a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, and a pistol — from an as-yet-unidentified arms supplier across the Nigeria–Niger border.

“All the suspects are from Kaduna and Katsina States and have confessed to obtaining their weapons from a 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).

Adeh further revealed that the gang admitted to carrying out several armed robberies across the Federal Capital Territory, including attacks in Katampe 1, Apo, and Zuba, before the fatal Katampe operation that claimed the journalist’s life.

“They have confessed to participating in other armed robbery operations at Katampe 1, a hotel in Apo, and another in Zuba,” she added.

Investigations also confirmed that Shamsudeen Hassan fired the fatal shot that killed the security guard, Barnabas Danlami, during the attack.

How Police Tracked Down the Killers

Following the incident, FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, constituted a Special Investigation Team led by DCP Aliyu Abubakar, with ACP Victor Godfrey as deputy, to track down the criminal network.

“By leveraging digital reconstructive intelligence and conducting coordinated operations across the FCT, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States, the team successfully apprehended the suspects,” Adeh stated.

Recovered items from the gang included:

• A fabricated AK-47 rifle

• 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition

• A locally made pistol

• Two live cartridges

• Four stolen mobile phones

• Two sharp knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation

The police urged residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities through emergency lines, assuring that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing accomplices.

Nigeria continues to grapple with the influx of illegal small arms and light weapons from neighboring countries, especially Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

A United Nations report (2016) estimated that of the 500 million illicit weapons circulating in West Africa, about 350 million (70%) are in Nigeria — a figure that underscores the country’s persistent security challenges.

“This remains a serious threat to national security,” a senior police officer noted, stressing that cross-border arms smuggling continues to fuel violent crimes nationwide.