Court Adjourns Trial of 11 Suspects in Murder of ARISE TV Journalist

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has adjourned the trial of 11 suspects linked to the killing of ARISE TV journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami to February 26, 2026.

The suspects were arraigned on Wednesday on a nine-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder, according to a statement from the FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh.

The victims were killed during a robbery at Unique Apartments in Katampe Extension, Mabushi, Abuja, on September 29, 2025.

Those charged include Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar, Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman.

Adeh urged the public to report suspicious activities to the police, emphasizing the command’s commitment to ensuring justice.

The killing of Maduagwu, an anchor, reporter, and producer with ARISE News, sparked widespread outrage last year, with many Nigerians condemning the attack and expressing concern over security in the capital.

Following the incident, the FCT Police Command arrested 12 suspects and disclosed that the armed robbery gang sourced its weapons from a supplier in Niger Republic. Maduagwu was later buried in her hometown in Anambra State.