Police Witness: Arise News Journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu Was Pushed to Death

Exactly one year after the deadly armed robbery that claimed the life of Arise News journalist Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a police investigator told an Abuja court on Tuesday that the 29-year-old was pushed from her apartment building by one of the robbers — directly contradicting the earlier official account that she jumped in panic.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Douglas Ishaku, a member of the FCT Police Command’s Scorpion Squad and the fourth prosecution witness, testified before Justice Mohammed Idris at the FCT High Court in Jabi. The trial of 11 defendants linked to the September 29, 2025 attack at Unique Apartments in Katampe Extension resumed on the anniversary of the incident.
“We found out that one of the occupants was pushed down from a two-storey building by one of the defendants, and the security guard was killed,” Ishaku told the court, according to reports of the proceedings.2c9083
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The testimony overturns the version given shortly after the attack by then FCT Police Commissioner Ajao Adewale, who told Arise News on October 1, 2025, that Maduagwu “jumped down from the third storey” of the building in fear as armed men moved through the complex. Adewale had also stated that officers found her unconscious and rushed her to Maitama General Hospital, where doctors attempted CPR without success. Family associates and some residents had long challenged parts of that account, citing delayed police response and claims that hospital staff initially demanded identification before providing care.
Maduagwu, popularly known as Sommie, was a lawyer-turned-broadcaster who joined Arise News in 2024 as a reporter, producer and anchor. She covered legal affairs, gender equity and social justice issues. Born on December 26, 1995, in London, she was the only child of her mother after a decade of marriage. She was also a former first runner-up in Miss Tourism Nigeria.
She died alongside Barnabas Danlami, a security guard at the apartment complex, who was shot during the early-morning invasion. Ishaku, who recorded confessional statements from the defendants, told the court that the 11 suspects belonged to a larger criminal syndicate operating in Abuja. He said the first defendant, Shamsu Hassan, shot the security guard with a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle. A foreign-made pump-action rifle used in the attack belonged to the second defendant, Sani Surajo (also referred to as Sirajo). Both weapons, along with daggers and machetes, were recovered by police.
The court also heard that a suspect still at large, identified only as Dogo, drove away a white Honda CR-V belonging to Fatou Toborteh, a former resident who earlier testified as the second prosecution witness. The robbers made off with cash, laptops and phones.
The 11 defendants — Shamsu Hassan, Sani Surajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamosi, Zaradeen Mohammed, Musa Umar (also known as “Small”), Mashikur Jamil, Suleiman Sani and Abubakar Usman — face nine counts of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide punishable by death. All pleaded not guilty at their arraignment in January 2026. They have remained in custody at Kuje Correctional Centre.
Earlier witnesses, including residents Sani Yusuf and Fatou Toborteh, described the chaos of the attack between approximately 3:00 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. They recounted hearing gunshots, masked men speaking Hausa, and female screams. Both said they later saw Maduagwu lying face down in a pool of blood with severe head injuries. Neither could identify any of the defendants, who wore masks. Yusuf said he recognised Maduagwu only later at the hospital from estate group-chat photos.
The trial has faced repeated delays since it opened on February 10, 2026, including non-production of defendants from custody and absences. On Tuesday, lead prosecutor Adama Musa indicated he intended to tender a video recording of the defendants’ confessional statements. Justice Idris adjourned the matter to October 7 for continuation.
The attack and Maduagwu’s death sparked widespread mourning and criticism of insecurity in the capital. A family friend had described the tragedy as “avoidable” and a “failure of the Nigerian system,” alleging slow police response. The International Press Centre condemned the killing and warned against a culture of impunity. Maduagwu was buried on October 18, 2025, in her hometown of Agulu, Anambra State, with mourners including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
The new testimony marks a significant shift in the official narrative one year on, placing direct responsibility for Maduagwu’s fatal fall on one of the alleged robbers rather than on her own desperate attempt to escape. The court is expected to hear further evidence when the trial resumes next month.

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