Metro
How police arrested killers of Arise TV Anchor, Sommie Maduagwu – Witness tells court
The trial of the eleven accused persons linked to the murder of Arise News journalist and anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, during a robbery at her apartment, continued on Tuesday, with the third prosecution witness giving details of how arrests were made.
An Assistant Superintendent of Police and member of the Scorpion Squad, CID FCT Command, Mr Maxwell Eje, at Tuesday’s proceedings, told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that the arrest of the accused persons began with Shamsu Hassan.
He said that the police discovered on September 30 that Hassan had fled to Zaria after the robbery at Unique Apartments in Katampe a day earlier, during which Miss Maduagwu jumped to her death from her three-storey apartment.
ASP Eje informed the court that Shamsu Hassan admitted to the crime and agreed to cooperate with the authorities to disclose the hideouts of others.
Hassan mentioned one Sani Surajo, who was receiving treatment at an unnamed hospital in Gosa, a suburb along the Airport Road in Abuja.
“Surajo was shocked at the sight of the security operatives of the Scorpion Squad at the hospital where he was receiving treatment,” the witness said.
“He too agreed to cooperate and assist with useful information on the whereabouts of others who took part in the robbery.”
The testimony of ASP Maxwell Eje did not get to the point of cross-examination, as Dennis Abu, counsel for the seventh to eleventh defendants, who also held brief for counsel to the first and third defendants, sought leave of the judge, Mohammed Idris, to attend a medical appointment.
This prompted an adjournment until Thursday, April 23, for the conclusion of the evidence-in-chief of the third prosecution witness and for cross-examination.
The prosecutor had earlier informed the court that he had two witnesses available at the start of Tuesday’s proceedings.
The FCT Police Commissioner had filed criminal charges against the 11 defendants bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder in connection with the September 29, 2025, armed robbery at Unique Apartments in Katampe, Abuja.
It was during the incident that Arise News anchor/journalist Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami were killed.
The trial began on February 10, 2026, after earlier delays due to the absence of defendants and other issues.
The first prosecution witness, Sani Yusuf, a civil engineer and former resident of Unique Apartments, and the second, Fatou Toborteh, another former resident, have so far testified about the events of September 29.
Both described masked armed assailants raiding apartments but stated they could not identify any of the 11 defendants, who were masked during the attack.
The defendants are Shamsu Hassan, Sani Surajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, and Suleiman Badamosi. Others are Zaradeen Mohammed, Musa Umar ‘Aka’ Small, Mashikur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman.
Metro
Anambra: Police arrest two over disappearance of 33-year-old woman in Oraifite
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two persons over the disappearance of a 33 years old woman in the Oraifite area of the state.
The woman reportedly disappeared about three months ago.
The state police command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga said the arrests followed the transfer of the matter from Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID.
The police spokesman, in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, said, “We successfully uncovered the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and murder of a 33-year old woman and arrested two suspects in connection with the crime in Oraifite.
“The suspects all males include: Thankgod Ikechukwu Ikwugwara 26 years old and Makuochukwu Uzoigwe 20 years old respectively.
“The Case originated on 13th March, 2026, when the deceased’s mother reported her missing at the Oraifite Divisional Police Headquarters. The following day, 14th March, 2026, the lifeless body of an unidentified female was discovered inside a culvert near Jesus Bus Stop, Oraifite. The deceased’s father later identified the body as that of his missing daughter.
“Following the transfer of the Case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka for a comprehensive investigation, the Operatives leveraging on intelligence and digital forensic leads through sustained efforts eventually arrested the two suspects on 6th June, 2026.”
Ikenga said the suspects have confessed to the crime, with one of the suspects saying he was in a relationship with the victim, and responsible for murdering her.
He said: “During interrogation, the principal suspect, Thankgod Ikechukwu Ikwugwara, confessed to the murder. He stated that he had been in a relationship with the deceased for about three years and claimed he was unaware that she was married. He further alleged that after a disagreement with the deceased’s husband, he developed a strange illness which affected his sight and, out of resentment, plotted the attack.
“The suspect further confessed that on 13th March, 2026, he lured the deceased to his residence under the guise of seeking help due to illness. Upon her arrival, he and the second suspect allegedly attacked her with a machete, resulting in her death. The suspects subsequently disposed of the body in a culvert near Jesus Bus Stop, Oraifite, in the early hours of the following day.
“Both suspects have confessed to their involvement in the crime and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.”
Metro
Benue Links seeks public help to locate family of deceased passenger
The Benue Links management has appealed to the public for assistance in identifying and locating the family of a passenger identified as Mr Timothy, who reportedly died while travelling aboard one of its buses from Makurdi to Ihugh.
According to the transport company, the incident occurred on Tuesday as the vehicle approached Ihugh in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State.
In a statement on Tuesday by the management of the company’s Ihugh-Vandeikya Branch, the deceased boarded a Benue Links bus in Makurdi and was travelling towards Korinya, as indicated in the passenger manifest he completed before departure.
The company stated that the incident occurred as the vehicle approached Ihugh.
Benue Links emphasised that the death was not linked to any road traffic accident, noting that there was no collision or reported incident involving the bus during the journey.
Following the incident, Benue Links said it deposited the remains of the deceased at a mortuary in Ihugh to facilitate preservation and identification.
The company has appealed to members of the public who may know the deceased or his relatives to assist in notifying his family and directing them to contact the management of the Benue Links Ihugh-Vandeikya branch for identification and further arrangements.
The circumstances surrounding the cause of death have not been publicly disclosed.
Metro
Police arrest doctor, parents over alleged sale of newborn in Lagos
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a medical doctor, a traditional birth attendant and the parents of a newborn baby over the alleged sale of the infant for N2.5 million in Lagos.
Police investigations revealed that the 28-year-old mother and her boyfriend allegedly decided against keeping the child after birth and began searching for individuals who could facilitate the sale of the baby.
The couple was reportedly connected to a prospective buyer in the Ikorodu area through intermediaries involved in the arrangement.
According to findings, the pregnant woman was initially taken to a traditional birth attendant for delivery before complications developed during labour.
The situation reportedly forced her transfer to a private hospital in Ikorodu, where a medical doctor, identified as the principal suspect in the case, carried out a Caesarean section that saved both the mother and the newborn.
Investigators alleged that arrangements for the sale of the child were concluded shortly after delivery within the hospital premises.
The baby was subsequently handed over to an unidentified buyer after the payment of N2.5 million, while the suspected buyer remains at large.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Tijani, directed that the matter be transferred from Area E Command, Festac, to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
The case, involving allegations of conspiracy, child stealing and human trafficking, is currently being handled by the Anti-Human Trafficking/Gender Unit of the SCID under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Dayo Akinbisehin.
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