Police Arraign 11 Suspects Over Killing of Arise TV Journalist, Security Guard
The Nigeria Police have arraigned 11 suspects in connection with the killing of Arise News journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) court.
The FCT Police Command confirmed the arraignment in a statement issued on Wednesday, stating that the suspects were charged with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder.
Maduagwu, an anchor, reporter, and producer with Arise News, was killed alongside Danlami during a robbery attack at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Mabushi, Abuja, in the early hours of September 29, 2025.
According to the police, the suspects arraigned are Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar, also known as “Small,” Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman.
The police statement said the suspects were docked on a nine-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder.
The 29-year-old journalist reportedly lost his life when armed robbers invaded the three-storey apartment complex at about 3:30 a.m., moving from one flat to another and dispossessing residents of their belongings during the attack.
The police assured the public of their commitment to ensuring justice for the victims and prosecuting all those found culpable in accordance with the law.
