Armed robbery suspects who were involved in the incident that led to the death of Arise News TV anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu got their weapons from an arms dealer in the Niger Republic, the police have said.
Recall that Maduagwu, a 29-year-old news anchor, jumped to her death during a robbery incident at her residence in Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Abuja on September 29. The armed robbers also shot the security guard of the estate, Barnabas Danlami to death during the attack.
Following her death, the police on Thursday announced that they had arrested 12 individuals suspected of being involved in the incident.
The spokesperson for Federal Capital Territory Command, Josephine Adeh who spoke on the matter said the suspects sourced their arms from the neighbouring Niger Republic.
Adeh said the weapons procured from the suspects for the attack include a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, and a pistol, purchased from the Nigeria-Niger border arms dealer.
“All the suspects are from Kaduna and Katsina States and have confessed to obtaining their weapons from a yet-to-be-identified supplier in the Niger Republic,” Adeh said.
According to the police spokesperson, all the suspects in their confessional statements confirmed that they are responsible for robbery attacks at Katampe 1, a hotel in Apo and Zuba areas of Abuja.
“They have 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, Mr Barnabas Danlami, was fired by one of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan,” Adeh added.