The police on Tuesday detailed how Arise Television journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and security guard, Barnabas Danlami, died during an armed robbery attack in Abuja.
The police gave the details as trial proceedings continued on the case.
The journalist reportedly died on September 29, 2025, following an attack at an apartment complex in Katampe.
Testifying before the court as Prosecution Witness three, ASP Maxwell Eje of the Scorpion Squad, Criminal Investigation Department, referring to the suspects said, “I know them very well.”
Mr Eje, in his account of the investigation into the case involving criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide, told the court that the matter was transferred to the Commissioner of Police on September 30, 2025, before being assigned to his team.
He added that the team was led to the scene of the incident by the assistant commissioner of police ASP Godfrey, where they made key observations.
“We were led to the scene at Katampe, where observations were made,” Mr Eje said. “The doors to the apartments were broken by the armed men.”
According to him, a guard at the residence was shot during the attack.
“The security guard on duty was shot,” he told the court.
Mr Eje stated that investigators discovered that Ms Maduagwu died after attempting to escape the attack.
“We observed that a staff member of Arise Television jumped from upstairs and died,” he said.
The officer added that the suspects fled in a “white Honda vehicle.”
Providing details of the investigation, Mr Eje said one of the suspects, Shamsu Hassan, was arrested in Zaria and confessed that he would lead them to other suspects.
“Mr Hassan took them to another suspect Sani Sirajo in Gosa, Lugbe, where he was receiving treatment from an accident they had,” he stated.
Mr Eje said after Mr Sirajo was approached, he volunteered to assist the police in locating weapons and other members of the group.
According to him, officers recovered firearms during the search.
“We recovered a gun in an uncompleted building in Madalla,” he said. “We also recovered a decapitated AK-47.”
He added that the team returned to their office, where the suspect offered to help locate other members of the gang believed to be hiding in some areas including Dede and Kubwa.
The police later allowed one of the suspects to access his phone so he could communicate with the other suspects and assist in their arrest.
The defendants in the case include 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.
Proceedings were adjourned to April 23, after counsel to the first defendant requested to leave for a medical appointment, thereby ending the cross-examination.
