Police Recover Double-Barrel Gun and AK-47 Linked to Murder, Robbery Deaths of Arise News Presenter, Security Guard in Abuja

Witness tells FCT High Court how weapons allegedly used in the Katampe robbery were recovered after confessions by suspects.

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By A1 News International
Abuja, Nigeria

A witness at the FCT High Court, Jabi, on Tuesday narrated how police recovered alleged weapons linked to the robbery attack that resulted in the death of Arise News newscaster Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami. The witness, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told the court that an English double-barrel firearm and an AK-47 were recovered following a suspect’s confession.

Weapons Allegedly Recovered After Suspect Confession

The police witness, ASP Maxwell Eje, told the court that following information and confession from a suspect, officers recovered weapons allegedly used in the incident. He said one suspect, Sani Sirajo, led police to a location in Madalla, where an English double-barrel shotgun loaded with two cartridges was recovered from a hole in a fence.

ASP Eje further told the court that officers later moved to a bush area beyond Zuma Rock, where a fabricated AK-47 was reportedly recovered in another fence hole. He said the team returned to the police office after the recovery.

Deaths Follow Robbery Attack at Katampe Residence

ASP Eje stated that Ms Maduagwu died after an armed robbery attack at her residence in the Katampe area of Abuja, while Mr Danlami was also killed during the same incident. He said police investigations led to the arrest of 11 suspects, who were subsequently arraigned on nine counts, including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and murder.

Defendants arraigned include:
Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar, Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani and Abubakar Usman.

How Police Captured Some Suspects

During Tuesday’s proceedings, ASP Eje also described how some of the accused persons were arrested. He said police acted on intelligence indicating that one of the defendants was sighted in Zaria, Kaduna State.

He told the court that information reached his commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Godfrey, that the suspect had fled to Zaria. ASP Eje added that after the arrest, Shamsu Hassan allegedly confessed that another suspect was receiving treatment at Gosa following an accident. He said police went to a hospital, where they found Sani Sirajo receiving treatment and that Sirajo later directed them to the location of the weapons.

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ASP Eje further stated that after the weapons were recovered, Sirajo allegedly disclosed where additional suspects were located, including areas in Deidei and Kubwa, and police proceeded to the sites. He said police released Sirajo’s phone to enable communication with the other suspects at the locations.

Police Observations at the Crime Scene

ASP Eje said the case was referred to his office on 30 September 2025 at about 10:25 am. He told the court that officers observed broken doors at Unique Apartments and that one security personnel was shot.

The witness also said police observed that one of the occupants described as a woman working for Arise Television jumped from an upper floor during the robbery and died as a result. He added that a victim, Fayel Joshua Musa, wrote a statement describing what happened on the night of the robbery.

ASP Eje told the court that a white Honda vehicle was also allegedly taken during the attack, though he said he could not recall the plate number.

Adjournment

The judge adjourned the case to 23 April after an application by counsel Dennis Abdul, who indicated urgent matters for some of the lawyers assigned to the accused persons.

The testimony underscores the prosecution’s reliance on alleged confessions, recovery of firearms, and on-scene observations to establish the link between the accused persons and the fatal robbery. The case also highlights the role of intelligence-led policing and evidence documentation in serious violent crimes adjudication in the Federal Capital Territory.