Ten days after the death of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, a news anchor and producer with Arise Television, the police have arrested 12 suspects in connection with the armed robbery that led to her death.
Somtochukwu, popularly known as Sommie, died in the early hours of 29 September when armed robbers attacked her home in the Katampe area of Abuja, the nation’s capital. A private security guard assigned to the residence was also killed during the incident.
In a statement issued on Thursday, police authorities confirmed the arrests, adding that the suspects had confessed to the crime.
According to the statement, four of the suspects were apprehended shortly after the robbery through the tracking of mobile phones stolen from the property.
One of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, reportedly confessed to shooting the security guard when he tried to stop them from entering the building. Another suspect, Sani Sirajo, claimed he attempted to stop Sommie from falling from a storey building but was unable to hold her due to her weight.
The police listed the arrested suspects as follows:
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Shamsudeen Hassan (male), Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
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Hassan Isah (male, 22), Zaria, Kaduna State
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Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. Abba (male, 27), Musawa LGA, Katsina State
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Sani Sirajo a.k.a. Dan Borume (male, 20), Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
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Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. Abba (male, 28), Igabi LGA, Kaduna State
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Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. Dan-Sule (male, 21), Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
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Abdul Salam Saleh a.k.a. Na-Durudu (male), Katsina LGA, Katsina State
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Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. Gwaska (male, 23), Chikun LGA, Kaduna State
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Musa Adamu a.k.a. Musa Hassan (male, 30), Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State
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Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. Baby (female, 27), Saminaka LGA, Kaduna State
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Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. Abbati (male, 25), Zaria LGA, Kaduna State
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Musa Umar a.k.a. Small (male, 31), Maiduguri LGA, Borno State.
Police investigations into the case are ongoing.