The Federal Capital Territory Police Command confirmed on Wednesday that 11 suspects connected to the killing of Arise News journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami have been arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory court.
According to a statement released by the police, the suspects were charged with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder. The arraignment followed a deadly robbery attack at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Mabushi, Abuja, on September 29, 2025.
Maduagwu, an anchor, reporter, and producer with Arise News, was killed alongside Danlami during the raid. The suspects presented in court include Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar (aka “Small”), Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman.
The police said the defendants are facing a nine-count charge that includes criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder. The 29-year-old journalist reportedly died in the early hours of September 29 when armed robbers invaded the three-storey apartment complex around 3:30 a.m., moving from flat to flat and dispossessing residents of their belongings.
