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Police Arraign 11 Suspects Over the Murder of Arise TV Journalist, Security Guard

January 21, 2026 by admin

Eleven suspects linked to the murder of Arise News journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, were on Wednesday arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory court. The Federal Capital Territory Police Command confirmed the arraignment in a statement released 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, on September 29, 2025. The suspects arraigned include Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar (aka “Small”), Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman. The command said in a statement, “The suspects were arraigned on a nine-count charge, including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder.” The 29-year-old journalist died in the early hours of September 29, 2025, when armed robbers stormed the three-storey apartment complex around 3:30 am, moving from flat to flat and dispossessing residents of their belongings. The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, speaking at the time, said, “Policemen moved to the scene and found her lying unconscious. She was immediately taken to Maitama General Hospital, where doctors tried to resuscitate her using CPR, but sadly, she could not make it.” Adewale had condemned the killing as “cruel and senseless,” stressing that such violence “has no place in a sane society.” The Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, had earlier revealed that preliminary investigations showed the syndicate procured its firearms from an arms dealer operating across the Nigeria–Niger border. Items recovered from the suspects include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of live ammunition, a locally made pistol, a pump-action gun, two cartridges, four mobile phones belonging to the victims, knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights. The suspects also confessed to participating in other armed robbery operations at Katampe 1, a hotel in Apo, and another in Zuba, all within the FCT. Arise Television management had described Maduagwu as “delectable, intelligent, and bold,” noting that she joined the station in September 2024 after representing Nigeria at the Miss Tourism World pageant in Quanzhou, China, in 2023. The management noted that through her legal background and reporting skills, she advocated for out-of-school children and campaigned against sexual and gender-based violence. The matter has been adjourned to February 2026 for further proceedings. The command urged “members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or packages through the Command’s emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883, or CRU FCT: 08107314192.”

Police Begin Probe Into Murder of ARISE TV Anchor

September 30, 2025 by admin

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has confirmed the death of a news anchor with Arise News Channel, Ms. Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who was killed during an armed robbery attack at her Katampe residence in Abuja on Monday. The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ajao Adewale, described the incident as a “cruel and senseless act that has no place in a sane society,” while commiserating with the deceased’s family, colleagues, and the media community. In a statement on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the command said Adewale had ordered a discreet and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of the killing. The statement partly read, “The FCT commissioner of police has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Ms. Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a News Anchor, Reporter, and Producer with Arise News Channel, who tragically lost her life during an armed robbery incident at her residence in the Katampe area of Abuja in the early hours of Monday, September 29, 2025. “Describing the incident as a cruel and senseless act that has no place in a sane society. The Commissioner of Police assured that the Command remains fully committed to ensuring that justice is served. ” The CP also directed the deployment of intelligence and operational assets to track down the perpetrators. “To this end, he has ordered a discreet and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. He further directed the deployment of intelligence and operational assets to identify, track, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime, ” he said. The commissioner urged residents to support the investigation by providing timely and useful information to the police and to raise prompt alarm in suspicious situations to forestall similar crimes. This is not the first time media professionals have been killed in robbery-related incidents in the Federal Capital Territory. On June 14, 2024, Azubuko Nwakama, a staff member of Liberty Radio, was attacked and robbed at Panteka Market in Mpape. After more than a year of investigation, the police announced the arrest of three suspects in August 2025. In January 2019, Chris Edoga, a journalist with Radio Nigeria, Abuja, was attacked by armed robbers at his home in the Gwagwalada area. The hoodlums broke into his apartment, stabbed him, and carted away valuables. He was rushed to the hospital by good Samaritans but died the following day. Similarly, on September 1, 2019, an AIT journalist in Abuja lost his life after falling victim to a “one-chance” robbery syndicate. He was attacked, robbed, and fatally stabbed by the operators.

Gospel Singer Pleads Not Guilty To The Murder Of Nasarawa corper

January 28, 2025 by admin

Gospel singer Timileyin Ajayi, the suspected murderer of Salome Adaidu has pleaded not guilty to the killing of the National Youth Service Corps member who died a few weeks ago at his residence. The Nasarawa State Police Command arrested him on January 12 and charged him to court for culpable homicide punishable with death. According to the police, the suspect pleaded not guilty to the killing of Adaidu when he was arraigned before Justice Simeon Aboki at Court 2 in Lafia on Monday. The Officer-in-Charge, Legal, of the Nasarawa State Police Command, Stanley Nwaforagu, told newsmen after the court proceeding that despite his plea of not guilty to the charge, the police would continue to follow up on the case until justice is served. Nwaforagu said, “Today, the 27th day of January 2025, the defendant, Mr Timileyin Ajayi, was properly arraigned before this Honourable court on the one count charge of culpable homicide punishable with death. “His plea was taken and he pleaded not guilty to the charge. And a date was set for trial. The case is now adjourned to the 17th to 20th day of March for trial. “The court is desirous of giving it a speedy, accelerated trial and it is a welcome development. We have overwhelming evidence to sustain the charge and we are optimistic that justice will be done.” On his part, counsel for the defendant, Joseph Tukur, assured him to follow up on the case for his client (Ajayi) until the law is fulfilled. “Today was basically for arraignment. And as the law demands, he has entered his plea already, so we have taken a day for hearing.” Responding to how the case will be proved despite the earlier comments made by his client on the matter, he said, “It is not my place to prove the case. It is my place to defend him. “The work of the defence counsel is to ensure that the prosecution does their work legally well which is to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. So, I am here to make sure that the law is fulfilled.” Punch

Man,Girlfriend Arrested For Abduction,Murder Of A 70-Year-Old Woman In Enugu.

November 22, 2024 by admin

A 33-year-old man, Ikechukwu Okoye, and his 39-year-old girlfriend, Juliet Ogbodo, have been arrested by the Enugu State Police Command for allegedly kidnapping and murdering a 70-year-old woman, Mrs. Mary Nwatu. The suspects, both from Onuorie-Obuno in Akpugo Community, Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state, reportedly killed the victim and buried her in a shallow grave before demanding a ransom of N6 million from her children. They were apprehended after receiving N20,000 from the family, ostensibly to facilitate a phone call with the victim. In a statement issued Thursday night, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed that the arrest was carried out by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad following credible intelligence. According to Ndukwe, preliminary investigations revealed that Mrs. Nwatu was reported missing on September 15, 2024. “On October 5, 2024, the principal suspect, Ikechukwu Okoye, who is also a kinsman of the victim, contacted her children, demanding a ransom of N6 million,” Ndukwe stated. Okoye was subsequently arrested and reportedly confessed to the crime. “He admitted abducting Mrs. Nwatu on September 14, 2024, at about 8 am when she came to their house to look for his mother. “He further confessed to killing her and burying her in a shallow grave inside an uncompleted building in the compound.” the police officer said. The suspect also admitted to demanding a ransom from the victim’s children, initially requesting N6 million before negotiating down to N3 million. However, he accepted an initial payment of N20,000 on the condition that the family would hear their mother’s voice over the phone before making further payments. Juliet Ogbodo, Okoye’s girlfriend, also confessed during interrogation to being aware of the crime but claimed she did not report it to authorities out of fear. The victim’s remains have since been exhumed and deposited in a mortuary for preservation and autopsy. Ndukwe assured all that the suspects, along with any other individuals found complicit, would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations. “The Enugu State Police Command remains committed to ensuring justice for the victim and her family,” Ndukwe said.

Court Sentences Three To Death For Colonel’s Murder

September 24, 2024 by admin

In a significant ruling on Tuesday, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan sentenced three individuals to death by hanging for the murder of Colonel Anthony Okeyin, the Commandant of the Nigeria Army Secondary School in Apata, Ibadan. The convicted men—Agada Solomon, Taiwo Adeniyi, and Bibisoye Kehinde—were also handed 14-year prison sentences for conspiracy and armed robbery. The convicts were among six defendants charged in connection with the heinous act that took place on December 12, 2016. Justice Ezekiel Ajayi found them guilty on multiple counts, including conspiracy and murder, with the prosecution presenting compelling evidence, including confessional statements and the discovery of the deceased commandant’s phone in the possession of Solomon. Conversely, the remaining three defendants—Ewere Andrew, Udobata Oruza-Uzie, and Ephraim Obi—were discharged and acquitted of all charges. Justice Ajayi noted that the only connection of the sixth defendant, Obi, was that his car was used in the commission of the crime. During proceedings, the prosecution, represented by Mrs. K.K. Oloso, detailed how the defendants allegedly conspired at the Commandant’s quarters and fatally assaulted the 52-year-old Okeyin, inflicting severe injuries and robbing him of a Samsung X4 phone and N45,000 in cash. In addressing the court, defense counsel Mr. F.O. Awonusi appealed for leniency, urging the court to temper justice with mercy, but this plea did not sway the judge. The serious nature of the crimes led to their categorization under multiple sections of the Criminal Code and the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, underscoring the gravity of the offenses committed

Police Arraign 11 Suspects Over the Murder of Arise TV Journalist, Security Guard

Police Begin Probe Into Murder of ARISE TV Anchor

Gospel Singer Pleads Not Guilty To The Murder Of Nasarawa corper

Man,Girlfriend Arrested For Abduction,Murder Of A 70-Year-Old Woman In Enugu.

Court Sentences Three To Death For Colonel’s Murder

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