The Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Wednesday, 21 January, 2026 arraigned 11suspects linked to the murder of Arise News journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, before a Federal Capital Territory court.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command, which confirmed the development through a statement released on Wednesday, 21 January, 2026, added that the suspects were charged with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder.
Thegazellenews.com recalled that Maduagwu, an anchor, reporter, and producer with Arise News, was killed alongside Danlami during a robbery attack at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Mabushi, Abuja, on September 29, 2025.
The suspects arraigned 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 suspects were arraigned on a nine-count charge, including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder,” the command said in a statement.
The 29-year-old journalist died in the early hours of September 29, 2025, when armed robbers stormed the three-storey apartment complex around 3:30 am, moving from flat to flat and dispossessing residents of their belongings.
