The Nigeria Police have arrested those involved in the death of Arise News Achor, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu.
NATIONAL POST reports those arrested are 12 in number and have confessed to their involvement in the incident.
This is also as one of the suspects provided further insight into the death of the journalist.
A confessional statement of the suspect revealed that the deceased actually had an encounter with the gunmen at her apartment, with the suspect claiming that he tried to stop her from jumping down.
A police report on the incident currently in circulation said that operatives of the scorpion squad, acting on actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence successfully arrested twelve (12) of the armed robbers that were involved in that operation.
The suspects are:
1. Shamsudeen Hassan ‘m’ from Malumfashi LGA Katsina state
2. Hassan Isah ‘m’, 22 years from Zaria kaduna State
3. Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. abba ‘m’, 27 years from Musawa LGA katsina state
4. Sani Sirajo a.k.a. dan borume ‘m’ 20 years from Malumfashi LGA katsina state
5. Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. abba ‘m’ 28 years from Igabi LGA kaduna state
6. Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. dan-sule ‘m’ 21 years from Malumfashi LGA katsina state
7. Abdul Salam saleh a.k.a. na-durudu ‘m’ from katsina lga katsina State
8. Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. gwaska ‘m’ 23 years from chikun lga kaduna state
9. Musa adamu a.k.a. musa hassan ‘m’ 30 years from malumfashi lga katsina state
10. Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. baby ‘m’ 27 years from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna state
11. Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. abbati ‘m’, 25 years from Zaria LGA, Kaduna state
12. Musa Umar a.k.a. small ‘m’ 31 years from Maiduguri LGA Borno state.
According to the report, shortly after the robbery incident that took place 29/09/2025 at about 0330hrs at unique apartment, Katampe district Mabushi, “four (4) of the suspects Shamsudeen Hassan, Alkamu, Sirajo and one other person were apprehended through the tracking of phones stolen from the apartment during the robbery.
“During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed that he shot the security guard when he attempted to prevent them from gaining access to the apartment.
“Sani Sirajo confessed to have tried to hold Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building but was overwhelmed by her weight. “Shamsudeen further confessed that he drove the white Honda CR-V jeep out of the apartment after the operation.
“The four suspects admitted that they each received N200,000 from the proceeds of the crime.”
Items recovered from the suspects included: One (1) fabricated ak-47 rifle, thirty-six (36) rounds of 9mm live ammunition; One (1) locally made pistol; One (1) pump-action gun; Two (2) live cartridges; Four (4) mobile phones of the victims; Two (2) sharp knives; One (1) cutlass and Nine (9) torchlights used during the operation.
The police further disclosed that a number of the suspects were nabbed while en route to an already planned armed robbery operation scheduled to hold at Maitama in the early hours of Wednesday morning.”
Meanwhile, some netizens applauded the police for the swiftness in the arrest of the suspects, others still questioned the circumstances surrounding Somtochukwu’s death.
They believe there could be more to it.
Here are some of the reactions:
Agwu Okosky Ogbonnaya: I always suspected that Somto couldn't have jumped down on her own. There must have been some sort of struggling with the robber and she (accidentally) fell. The story of trying to stop her from the fall is illogical. The robber must have been high on some substance, and therefore not truly in control to be so benevolent in such situation.
Only God is Gracious: It is possible those idiots made an attempt to molest her,and she can't bear to live with such stigma she ended it herself,very unfortunate.
Ade Lamba: Simpa Jerry Afadama she was pushed as i hear because one of the robbers said he wanted to help her but her weights could not allowed him.
Be Yourself: For me, it is not just an ordinary armed robbery. One thing I know, the real fact about this particular incident, will pop-up sooner than expected. Kudos to NPF.
Elite Chambers: How are we even sure she jumped, what if she was pushed?
