In connection with the murder of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, an anchor and lawyer, and Barnabas Danlami, a security guard, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arraigned eleven suspects.
Josephine Adeh, a spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, stated that the suspects would be detained on January 21, 2026, before the Jabi High Court.
According to Adeh, the FCT Police Command has arraigned eleven (11) suspects today, January 21, 2026, in connection with the murder of Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, Esq., an anchor, reporter, and producer for ARISE News, and Mr. Barnabas Danlami, a security guard, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
A nine-count charge involving “criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder” was brought against the defendants.
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 are among those arraigned.
The court moved the case forward until February 2026 so that more time can be spent.
Read more about Tinubu’s thorough investigation into the death of Arise News Anchor.
Death of Maduagwu
Maduagwu, 29, worked for Arise News as a reporter and producer. In the early hours of September 29, 2025, she was killed in a violent armed robbery at her home, Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Mabushi, Abuja.
According to police, Maduagwu, who resides on the third floor of the building, made an attempt to flee after learning that the attackers were approaching her flat.
She reportedly jumped off her balcony while doing it, causing fatal injuries.
The attackers shot and killed Danlami, a security guard on duty, in the same incident. In connection with the attack, the police had previously made 12 arrests in October 2025.
The suspects entered a not-guilty plea and were later placed in a kuje correctional facility. Trial dates were fixed for February 9, 10, and 12, 2026.
On October 18, 2025, Maduagwu, a former beauty queen who competed in the Miss Tourism World pageant for Nigeria, was laid to rest in her hometown of Agulu, Anambra State.
The implementation of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, which requires immediate medical attention for victims of gunshot and trauma injuries, sparked widespread public outcry and rekindled national discussions about insecurity in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu also ruled out the death of the anchor, declared her demise as “deeply tragic” and criticized the manner in which her life was ended.
He directed law enforcement and security to launch an investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the incident as quickly as possible.
The police would prosecute those responsible for Maduagwu’s death, according to the FCT minister.
Source: Channels TV
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