Ten days after the tragic death of Somtochukwu Maduagwu—a news anchor and producer with Arise Television—police authorities have announced the arrest of 12 suspects linked to the armed robbery that claimed her life.
Somtochukwu, fondly known as Sommie, was killed in the early hours of September 29 when a gang of armed robbers stormed her residence in the Katampe area of Abuja. A private security guard assigned to the premises was also killed during the attack.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the police confirmed that all 12 suspects have confessed to their involvement in the crime.
According to investigators, four of the suspects were apprehended soon after the incident, using phone-tracking technology to trace stolen devices taken from the residence.
One of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, admitted to fatally shooting the security guard who attempted to resist the intruders. Another suspect, Sani Sirajo, claimed he tried to stop Sommie from falling off the storey building during the chaos but said he was unable to hold her due to her weight.
The police released the identities of the suspects as follows:
- Shamsudeen Hassan – Male, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Hassan Isah – Male, 22, from Zaria, Kaduna State
- Abubakar Alkamu (aka Abba) – Male, 27, from Musawa LGA, Katsina State
- Sani Sirajo (aka Dan Borume) – Male, 20, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Mashkur Jamilu (aka Abba) – Male, 28, from Igabi LGA, Kaduna State
- Suleiman Badamasi (aka Dan-Sule) – Male, 21, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Abdul Salam Saleh (aka Na-Durudu) – Male, from Katsina LGA, Katsina State
- Zaharadeen Muhammad (aka Gwaska) – Male, 23, from Chikun LGA, Kaduna State
- Musa Adamu (aka Musa Hassan) – Male, 30, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
- Sumayya Mohammed (aka Baby) – Female, 27, from Saminaka LGA, Kaduna State
- Isah Abdulrahman (aka Abbati) – Male, 25, from Zaria LGA, Kaduna State
- Musa Umar (aka Small) – Male, 31, from Maiduguri LGA, Borno State
