The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said it has arrested 12 armed robbery suspects linked to the killing of an Arise News staff member, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, during a robbery attack in Abuja.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
The robbery operation on Sept. 29 at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension in Mabushi area of Abuja also, led to the murder of Mr Barnabas Danlami, a security guard attached to the estate.
She the arrest of the suspects behind the tragic incident followed the deployment of a Special Investigation Team led by Mr Aliyu Abubakar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
Adeh said the team, deployed by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT, Mr Ajao Adewale was assisted by the Commander, Scorpion Squad, ACP Victor Godfrey.
She said the team was deployed with a clear mandate, to track down and dismantle the criminal network behind the attack.
According to her, leveraging digital reconstructive intelligence and conducting coordinated operations across the FCT, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States, the team successfully apprehended 12 suspects and recovered some exhibits.
She said the exhibits recovered were one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, Oone locally made pistol, one pump-action gun, 36 live ammunition, two live cartridges, four mobile phones, two knives, one cutlass and one heavy flashlight.
Adeh said all the suspects were from Kaduna and Katsina States, adding that preliminary investigations had revealed that the gang procured their firearms from a yet to be identified supplier in Niger Republic.
She said the suspects had also, confessed to participating in other armed robbery operations at Katampe 1, a hotel in Apo, and another in Zuba, all within the FCT.
“Further investigations confirmed that the fatal shot which claimed the life of the security guard, was fired by one of the suspects.
